Acupuncture study update
The study into the use of acupuncture and moxibustion to promote wellbeing and improve the quality of life in patients with secondary lymphoedema is under way.
This exciting research project has attracted considerable interest and a four month funded extension has been awarded by the National Institute of Health Research Central Commission-ing Facility.
This will allow additional time to carry out the clinical treatment phase of the study. The project will now end in January 2010.
Recruitment closed at the end of May with 35 patients taking part in the study. Each participant received a course of seven treatments with an option to have a further six sessions.
Many of the participants have commented on how enjoyable and relaxing the sessions have been, opting for the supplementary sessions and necessitating the extension to the project.
Dr Beverley de Valois, the research acupuncturist heading up the study, is now collaborating with the Peninsula Medical School at the University of Exeter to assess participants’ experiences of acupuncture.
Early observations indicate that they have found the sessions beneficial, in improving their overall wellbeing and quality of life.
We would like to express our sincere thanks to Elaine Melsome, the Macmillan Lymphoedema Nurse Specialist at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, for her commitment to this project in referring patients.
Note: No participants had acupuncture needles inserted in the affected area during the course of this study.
Last updated: 23 July, 2009