Acupuncture vs Massage for Pain in Patients Living With Advanced Cancer: The IMPACT Randomized Clinical Trial.

Authors: Andrew S Epstein, Kevin T Liou, Sally A D Romero, Raymond E Baser, Greta Wong, Han Xiao et al.Journal: JAMA network openPublished: November 15, 2023DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.42482

Q1 JournalSJR: 2.476h-index: 48SCImago

Moderate EvidenceRandomized Controlled Trialn=298 participants

Cancer Pain Management Insomnia

In Plain Language: cancer pain, explained

This study examined the effects of acupuncture and massage on musculoskeletal pain in patients with advanced cancer. Both treatments reduced pain and improved quality of life, fatigue, and insomnia over a 26-week period. The findings suggest that both approaches can be valuable for managing pain in this patient group.

Key Findings: what this randomised trial found about cancer pain

✓Acupuncture led to a mean pain score reduction of -2.53 points.
✓Massage resulted in a mean pain reduction of -3.01 points.
✓Both treatments improved fatigue, insomnia, and quality of life without significant differences between them.

What This Means for You

For individuals with advanced cancer experiencing musculoskeletal pain, both acupuncture and massage can provide relief and enhance overall well-being based on the study's findings.

What This Means for Practitioners

Reflexology practitioners can incorporate findings from this study by offering reflexology as part of a holistic approach to pain management for cancer patients, alongside acupuncture and massage therapies.

Study Design: how this randomised trial was run

Blinding

open label

Control

none

Duration

26 weeks

Sample Size

298 participants

Limitations: what it cannot tell you about cancer pain

The study had limitations including a lack of significant difference between treatments and that the adverse events reported were mild.

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Cancer pain: common questions

What does this study say about cancer pain?

For individuals with advanced cancer experiencing musculoskeletal pain, both acupuncture and massage can provide relief and enhance overall well-being based on the study's findings.

What did this study find?

Acupuncture led to a mean pain score reduction of -2.53 points. Massage resulted in a mean pain reduction of -3.01 points. Both treatments improved fatigue, insomnia, and quality of life without significant differences between them.

How strong is this evidence?

This is a randomised trial and we rate its evidence moderate. It covers 298 participants. It was published in JAMA network open, a Q1 journal. This study is indexed here for context; it did not test reflexology itself.