Acupressure in Patients With Sickle Cell Disease (NCT06511453) | Clinical Trial Compass
Active — Not RecruitingNot Applicable
Acupressure in Patients With Sickle Cell Disease
United States59 participantsStarted 2024-03-07
Plain-language summary
The proposed research is to determine the clinical efficacy and neurobiological mechanisms of acupressure analgesia in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD).
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 80 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Any gender
* 18-80 (Adults) years old
* Have been diagnosed with SCD and experiencing chronic pain in the past 6 months or vaso-occlusive crisis/crises in the past 12 months.
* Either outpatient or inpatient or status changing between each other
* Willing to limit the current and the introduction of any new medications or treatment modalities for control of pain symptoms during the study visits.
* Willing to stick to the scheduled acupressure treatments every other day for 5 weeks.
* Fluent in English and capable of giving written informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Recent/ongoing alternative pain management with acupuncture/acupressure or acupuncture/acupressure-related techniques within the last 6 months.
* Presence of a concurrent autoimmune or inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, inflammatory bowel disease, etc. that causes pain or any other chronic pain condition with pain greater than sickle pain.
* Diseases/conditions history includes but not limited to:
* Head injury with substantial loss of consciousness
* Known non-SCD-related severe psychiatric illnesses (e.g. current schizophrenia, major depression with suicidal ideation).
* Significant visual, motor, or auditory impairment that would interfere with ability to perform study visits-related activities
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1This trial is testing acupressure — a non-drug, pressure-point technique — for sickle cell pain. Is acupressure something I could safely try alongside my current pain management plan, or could it interfere with any treatments I'm already on?
2The trial is measuring both how intense pain is and how much pain gets in the way of daily life — given my specific pattern of sickle cell pain crises, do you think those are the right things to focus on for me right now?
3Since this study is listed as 'active not recruiting,' I can't join it — but are there other similar non-drug pain management studies or programs I could ask about, or could we look into whether acupressure is something I could try outside of a trial?
4Because this is a Phase N/A study, what does that tell us about how much is already known about acupressure's safety and effectiveness for sickle cell disease, and should I be cautious about anything?
5Would adding an approach like acupressure make sense for me at this stage of managing my sickle cell disease, or would it be better to focus on optimizing my current medical treatment first?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.