Therapeutic Touch in Cancer Patients Receiving Palliative Care (NCT07524179) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
Therapeutic Touch in Cancer Patients Receiving Palliative Care
Turkey (Türkiye)61 participantsStarted 2024-03-01
Plain-language summary
This study aims to examine the effect of therapeutic touch applied to advanced cancer patients receiving palliative care on sleep quality and fatigue severity. This is a randomized controlled experimental study using a pretest-posttest design. The study includes advanced-stage cancer patients receiving support in a palliative care unit. Research data will be collected from patients between March and August 2024 using face-to-face interviews. The intervention group will receive therapeutic touch for 20 minutes per day for 5 consecutive days, while the control group will continue to receive routine palliative care. Data will be collected using a Personal Information Form, the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ), and the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS).
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 100 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:
* Inclusion Criteria:
* 18 years of age or older
* Pathologically confirmed advanced-stage cancer (stage 3-4)
* Receiving palliative care treatment
* Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ) score ≤50
* Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) score ≥4
* Mini-Mental Test score ≥24
Exclusion Criteria:
* Known diagnosis of a major sleep disorder
* Presence of acute infection
* Widespread dermatological lesions compromising skin integrity (e.g., ulcer, eczema)
* Dementia, delirium, or severe cognitive impairment
* Hearing or vision loss that would hinder therapeutic communication
* Medical condition that would contraindicate the application as determined by the palliative care team
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.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
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.
What they're measuring
1
Sleep Quality
Timeframe: Baseline and immediately after 5-day intervention