Development and Usability Evaluation of an Arm Circumference Measurement Tool For Patients Undergoing Breast Surgery

NCT ID: NCT07154771

Last Updated: 2025-09-04

Study Results

Results pending

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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Recruitment Status

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

35 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-07-10

Study Completion Date

2025-11-20

Brief Summary

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The aim of this study is to develop an arm circumference measurement device that can be used by both patients and nurses in the follow-up of upper extremity lymphedema, which may occur as a result of breast cancer surgery, and to evaluate its usability. This study also seeks to determine whether the developed device can offer a more accurate, faster, and more practical alternative compared to traditional tape measurements. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Is there a significant difference in intra-observer reliability between the measurements taken by nurses and patients using the arm circumference measurement device and those taken using a traditional tape measure?

Is there a significant difference in inter-observer reliability between the measurements taken by nurses and patients using the arm circumference measurement device and those taken using a traditional tape measure?

Is there a significant difference in the measurement results obtained by nurses and patients when using the arm circumference measurement device compared to a traditional tape measure?

Do nurses and patients experience a difference in the duration of arm circumference measurements when using the measurement device versus a traditional tape measure?

Is there a difference in the satisfaction levels of nurses and patients regarding arm circumference measurements performed with the measurement device versus a traditional tape measure? This study will be conducted in two phases: the first phase involves the development of the arm circumference measurement tool, and the second phase involves the evaluation of its usability through a double-blind, two-group, crossover randomized controlled trial.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Breast Surgery Breast Cancer Lymphedema

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

This study will be conducted in two phases: the first phase involves the development of the arm circumference measurement device, and the second phase consists of a two-group crossover randomized controlled trial to evaluate the usability of the developed device.

Within this scope, the intra-observer and inter-observer reliability of the traditional tape measure and the newly developed arm circumference measurement device for measuring upper extremity circumference will be compared. In the crossover design, nurses and patients will be randomly assigned to study groups where both measurement methods will be applied in a predetermined order. There are a total of four study groups for nurses and patients, based on intervention-control and control-intervention sequences.
Primary Study Purpose

OTHER

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Outcome Assessors
Both the participants (patients and nurses) and the statistician conducting the data analyses are blinded to the group assignments of the participants

Study Groups

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İntervention-control group (Patient)

The intervention-control group will first perform circumference measurements using the arm circumference measurement device, followed by measurements with the tape measure. The measurement values obtained by the patients will be recorded in the Anthropometric Measurement and Time Tracking Form. The researcher will use a stopwatch to record the duration of the measurements, which will also be documented in the form.

Group Type OTHER

First with the arm circumference measurement tool, then with the traditional tape measure

Intervention Type OTHER

Patients and nurses in this group will measure both arms (at four different anatomical reference points) first using the newly developed arm circumference measurement device, followed by the traditional tape measure.

Control-Intervention Group (Patients)

The control-intervention group will first perform circumference measurements using the tape measure, followed by measurements with the arm circumference measurement device. The measurement values obtained by the patients will be recorded in the Anthropometric Measurement and Time Tracking Form. The researcher will use a stopwatch to record the duration of the measurements, which will also be documented in the form.

At the end of the procedure, all patients will complete the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology (QUEST), and Patient Interview Form.

Group Type OTHER

First with the traditional tape measure , then with the arm circumference measurement tool

Intervention Type OTHER

Patients and nurses in this group will measure both arms (at four different anatomical reference points) first using the traditional tape measure, and then using the newly developed arm circumference measurement device.

Intervention-Control Group (Nurses)

The intervention-control group will first perform circumference measurements using the arm circumference measurement device, followed by measurements with the tape measure. Nurses will record their measurement values in the Anthropometric Measurement and Time Tracking Form. The researcher will use a stopwatch to record the duration, which will also be noted in the form.

Group Type OTHER

First with the arm circumference measurement tool, then with the traditional tape measure

Intervention Type OTHER

Patients and nurses in this group will measure both arms (at four different anatomical reference points) first using the newly developed arm circumference measurement device, followed by the traditional tape measure.

Control-Intervention Group (Nurses)

The control-intervention group will first perform circumference measurements using the tape measure, followed by measurements with the arm circumference measurement device. Nurses will record their measurement values in the Anthropometric Measurement and Time Tracking Form. The researcher will use a stopwatch to record the duration, which will also be noted in the form.

At the end of the procedure, all nurses will complete the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology (QUEST), and Nurse Interview Form.

Group Type OTHER

First with the traditional tape measure , then with the arm circumference measurement tool

Intervention Type OTHER

Patients and nurses in this group will measure both arms (at four different anatomical reference points) first using the traditional tape measure, and then using the newly developed arm circumference measurement device.

Interventions

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First with the arm circumference measurement tool, then with the traditional tape measure

Patients and nurses in this group will measure both arms (at four different anatomical reference points) first using the newly developed arm circumference measurement device, followed by the traditional tape measure.

Intervention Type OTHER

First with the traditional tape measure , then with the arm circumference measurement tool

Patients and nurses in this group will measure both arms (at four different anatomical reference points) first using the traditional tape measure, and then using the newly developed arm circumference measurement device.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

Nurses:

-Currently working in General Surgery or Surgical Oncology clinics

Patients:

* Aged 18 years or older
* Newly diagnosed with breast cancer confirmed by histopathology
* Planned to undergo radical mastectomy, modified radical mastectomy, or breast-conserving surgery
* Scheduled for axillary lymph node dissection (at least two lymph nodes to be dissected)
* Able to understand information related to circumference measurement and perform the required skills

Exclusion Criteria

Patients:

* Patients who have undergone bilateral lymph node dissection
* Patients with a prior diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer (surgery, chemotherapy, etc.)
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi Gulhane Tip Fakultesi

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Rumeysa Ozcelik

Research Assistant

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Hatice AYHAN, Professor

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

SBUniversite

Locations

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Gülhane Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences

Ankara, , Turkey (Türkiye)

Site Status

Countries

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Turkey (Türkiye)

References

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Other Identifiers

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2025-347

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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