Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
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RECRUITING
NA
240 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2024-03-07
2029-08-31
Brief Summary
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Detailed Description
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Conditions
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Keywords
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
TREATMENT
SINGLE
Study Groups
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Usual Care + Acupressure
Participants will continue ongoing usual care and administer self-acupressure treatment.
Acupressure (using AcuWand or pencil eraser)
The acupressure procedure will consist of medium-deep pressure as tolerated at each assigned point applied in a circular motion. Subjects will be trained in the appropriate performance of the treatment at all points and complete the first treatment under supervision. Acupressure treatment will last for 2-3 minutes per point and be administered remotely every other day for 5 weeks.
Acupressure will be performed using a tool (AcuWand) and a pencil (the pencil's eraser head will be used as an alternative/backup tool) will be provided to help participants apply the right amount of pressure on the appropriate points on their bodies. In the event AcuWand/pencil is not available, participants can use fingers/thumbs for self-acupressure.
Usual Care Only
No interventions assigned to this group
Interventions
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Acupressure (using AcuWand or pencil eraser)
The acupressure procedure will consist of medium-deep pressure as tolerated at each assigned point applied in a circular motion. Subjects will be trained in the appropriate performance of the treatment at all points and complete the first treatment under supervision. Acupressure treatment will last for 2-3 minutes per point and be administered remotely every other day for 5 weeks.
Acupressure will be performed using a tool (AcuWand) and a pencil (the pencil's eraser head will be used as an alternative/backup tool) will be provided to help participants apply the right amount of pressure on the appropriate points on their bodies. In the event AcuWand/pencil is not available, participants can use fingers/thumbs for self-acupressure.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* 14-17 (Adolescents) and 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
* 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
14 Years
80 Years
ALL
Yes
Sponsors
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University of California, Irvine
OTHER
Indiana University
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Ying Wang
Assistant Professor of Anesthesia
Locations
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University of California, Irvine
Irvine, California, United States
Indiana University School of Medicine
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Countries
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Central Contacts
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Ying Wang, MD, PhD
Role: CONTACT
Facility Contacts
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Zahra Pakbaz, MD
Role: primary
Ying Wang, MD, PhD
Role: primary
References
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Houran L, Pucka AQ, Jiang M, Liu Z, O'Brien AR, Harte SE, Harris RE, Pakbaz Z, Wang Y. Acupressure alleviates pain and clinical symptoms in patients with sickle cell disease. medRxiv [Preprint]. 2025 May 1:2025.04.29.25326671. doi: 10.1101/2025.04.29.25326671.
Other Identifiers
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10056b
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id