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.
Being considered for major lung surgery
Surgery is not scheduled for at least 2 weeks
Age ≥ 50 years
Able to understand English at a 4th grade level
Allergy to Vaccaria seeds
Medical condition affecting either ear preventing use of auricular acupressure such as eczema, frostbite, sunburn
Parallel
Auricular Acupressure
Other interventionSeeds 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.
Number of patients enrolled
The patient will complete a form after each seed pressing confirming the pressing and the time.
Ease of participation in the study.
The patient will complete a form after each seed pressing confirming the pressing and the time.
Accuracy of seed placement by a non-professional care partner.
The care partner will place the seeds and then send a photo to the research team for correct seed placement verification or correction on a weekly basis. Accuracy of seed placement will be assessed by determining the number of corrections required to achieve seed placement each week.
The change of the intervention prehabilitation results
Compared to the control group, the intervention will demonstrate better increases in endurance, function, mood, breathing capacity, and strength.
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
