Effects of self-acupressure on the fatigue-sleep disturbance-depression symptom cluster in breast cancer survivors: a phase III randomised controlled trial.
Support Care CancerSep 17, 2026 (epub)
Mengyuan Li, Wai Hang Kwok, Tao Wang et al.
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In 30 seconds
This phase III randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of self-acupressure on the fatigue-sleep disturbance-depression symptom cluster (FSDSC) in breast cancer survivors. Ninety-three participants were assigned to true self-acupressure, sham self-acupressure, or usual care. The true self-acupressure group showed significantly better FSDSC outcomes compared to the other groups at both follow-up points (p < 0.01).
Key findings
- True self-acupressure group had significantly better FSDSC scores than other groups at T1 and T2 (all p < 0.01).
- At T1 and T2, true self-acupressure group had significantly lower PSQI and HADS-D scores than both comparison groups (all p < 0.05).
- True self-acupressure group reported significantly higher FACT-B total scores than usual care at T1 and T2 (both p < 0.0001).
- No adverse events were reported during the trial.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that self-acupressure may be an effective and safe intervention for managing fatigue, sleep disturbances, and depression in breast cancer survivors, which are common and debilitating symptoms in this population.