NCT07711626Recruiting
Foot Reflexology and Ta-VNS for Symptom Management in Head and Neck Cancer During CCRT
Efficacy of Foot Reflexology and Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Pain, Xerostomia, Fatigue, Sleep, and Treatment-Related Symptoms in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Receiving Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy: A Randomized, Single-Blind, Sham-Controlled Trial
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 24 Jul 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) frequently experience pain, xerostomia, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and other treatment-related toxicities that impair quality of life and treatment adherence, with incomplete relief from current supportive care. This randomized, single-blind, sham-controlled trial evaluates whether foot reflexology (FR), transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (ta-VNS), and auricular acupressure (AA) reduce pain, xerostomia, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and treatment-related symptoms in HNC patients receiving cisplatin-based CCRT, compared with usual care. Participants are randomized to a foot reflexology group, an auricular vagus nerve stimulation group (each with true and sham subgroups), or a usual-care control group, and are followed at baseline and weeks 1, 2, and 4.
- Status (registry)
- Recruiting
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 180 (estimated)
- First submitted
- 13 Jul 2026
- Start date
- 13 Jul 2026
- Primary completion date
- 31 Dec 2028
- Lead sponsor
- Tzu Chi University
- Diseases
- Head and neck cancer
- NCT number
- NCT07711626
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional
- Planned participants: 180
- From 13 Jul 2026 to the primary completion date, 31 Dec 2028
- 1 site in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Other illness
- Severe cognitive impairment or psychiatric illness precluding comprehension or cooperation
- Cardiac pacemaker or other implanted electronic device, or other severe cardiovascular disease
- History of epilepsy or seizures
- Physically frail condition
Lab values
- Open wounds or skin lesions of the foot or ear, lower-limb edema, history of deep vein thrombosis, or diabetes with most recent HbA1c \>7.5%
- Severe bone-marrow suppression (WBC \<2,000/µL or platelets \<50,000/µL)
Other
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women
Who the study is looking for
- Pathologically confirmed head and neck cancer, clinical stage II-IVA, age 30-75 years, conscious, able to communicate and comprehend, and able to comply with study procedures
- Scheduled to receive a second cycle of cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy
- ECOG performance status ≤2
Age in the registry: 30 years to 75 years · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers
Sites (1)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Department of Otorhinolaryngology Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Hualien City | Taiwan | Recruiting |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.