Foot Reflexology and Ear Nerve Stimulation for Symptoms in Head and Neck Cancer Treatment
Tests foot massage and ear stimulation for symptoms in head and neck cancer.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Foot Reflexology and Ta-VNS for Symptom Management in Head and Neck Cancer During CCRT
Key facts
- Where
- Hualien City, TaiwanSee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 30 and 75 years old?
Source: NCT07711626, who can take part
Where in Taiwan
- Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Department of OtorhinolaryngologyHualien City, TaiwanTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Tzu Chi University
- Trial code
- NCT07711626
- Record updated
- 24 July 2026
- Original description
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.Read full original descriptionShow less
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
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.
Inclusion: 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.
Exclusion: 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; 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); Pregnant or breastfeeding women.