Dr Winston Wang Dr Bruce Stafford 7 Research Protocol: Utilisation and the Effects of Acupuncture during Systemic and Radiation Cancer Treatment in the Public Hospital

摘要

The use of acupuncture and complementary, alternative medicine (CAM) among cancer patients is increasing. However the utilisation and the effects of acupuncture during systemic cancer and radiation treatment have not been properly evaluated in the public health care system in Australia. The Northern Sydney Cancer Centre (NSCC) at the Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) has introduced acupuncture for cancer patients as a pilot project for standard care. The aim is to evaluate the utilisation rate and the effects of acupuncture during cancer treatment. Patients receiving cancer treatment at NSCC, RNSH from June 2014 to May 2015 were approached and invited to participate in the study. The utilisation rate of acupuncture will be measured by the number of patients who received acupuncture treatment out of the total number of patients who received information about availability of acupuncture free of charge during systemic and radiotherapy cancer treatments. The effects of acupuncture will be measured with anxiety and depression, stress, fatigue and quality of life, with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life (EORTC QLQ-C30) using a pre and post-test design. The study findings will provide information about the utilisation and potential effects of acupuncture on cancer patients undergoing systemic and radiotherapy cancer treatments within a public health care system in Australia. This is the first study exploring the utilisation rate of acupuncture in cancer patients. Findings can be used for the development of evidence-based, holistic health strategies for comprehensive cancer care.