Auricular Acupressure in Prehabilitation

Part of paid clinical trials in Chicago, Illinois.

Sponsor
University of Chicago
Study ID
NCT06516198
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

  • Frailty
  • Lobectomy
  • Lung Surgery
  • Pneumonectomy; Status
  • Prehabilitation
  • Segmentectomy
  • Thoracic
  • Wedge Resection

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
50 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Auricular Acupressure — OTHER
    Seeds will be placed during the clinic visit by the acupuncturist or the research associate according to the group the patient was assigned to. The care partner will observe the placement. A photograph of the seed placement will be taken and given to the care partner and to the patient after the relevant points are labeled by number or letter. The method of pressing is demonstrated for 1 one of the seeds, the care partner practices pressing on 2 other seeds, and the patient practices pressing on the remaining 2 seeds. Pressing consists of applying pressure, gradually increasing the pressure until the patient expresses discomfort, and maintaining that pressure until 2 minutes have passed. After pressing has been performed for each seed, the seeds are removed in clinic prior to clinic discharge.

Study Details

Complementary medicine is recognized for its ability to enhance appetite, increase energy, reduce anxiety, decrease pain, and improve sleep, among many other benefits. Acupuncture is among the most frequent types of complementary medicine practiced in the US, and Medicare currently includes back pain as a reimbursable indication for this therapy. Acupuncture-related therapies may enhance efforts at prehabilitation in candidates for major lung resection.

Key Dates

Start date
Jul 21, 2025
Status verified
Nov 2025
Primary completion
Jun 20, 2027
Completion
Jun 20, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment
40 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Arms

  • Experimental: Experimental Group
    A random number card will be drawn in sequence from a box. Even numbered cards will assign the patient to the experimental group, odd numbered cards will assign the patient to the control group. o Intervention group seed points: 1. Shen Men (anxiety, depression, stress, pain) 2. Point 0 (homeostasis, energy, mood) 3. Endocrine (hormonal homeostasis) 4. Subcortex (insomnia, anxiety, pain, inflammation) 5. Autonomic (autonomic balance, pain)
  • Sham Comparator: Control Group
    A random number card will be drawn in sequence from a box. Even numbered cards will assign the patient to the experimental group, odd numbered cards will assign the patient to the control group. o Control group sham seed points: 1. Inside edge, center of tragus 2. Helix midway between apex and tubercle 3. Helix 1 cm anterior to apex 4. 5 mm anterior to Shen Men 5. Covered, 5 mm anterior and superior to endocrine For the sham intervention (Sham Type II, same intervention with seeding and intermittent pressing) the seeds are placed at nonacupressure points for the control group.

Primary Outcome Measure

Number of patients enrolled [ Time Frame: 2 weeks ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
University of ChicagoChicagoIllinois60637
Maria Lucia Madariaga
[email protected]
773-702-2500

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By research site
University of Chicago· Chicago, IL

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