CancerNCT06430177
The Effect of Sujok Therapy on Patient Comfort, Pain Intensity, and Anxiety Level in Cancer Patients With Port Catheter Placement
A study testing Su Jok in people with Cancer and Chemotherapy Effect, run by Firat University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
Cancer is a fatal disease characterized by uncontrolled growth and proliferation of tissues and organs in the human body. Among cancer treatments, chemotherapy is the most commonly used treatment method. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 85 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Cancer, Chemotherapy Effect
- What is being tested?
- Su Jok
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 10 Nov 2024to 1 Aug 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 85 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Being over 18 years of age
- Ability to communicate adequately
- Being diagnosed with cancer
- Will receive chemotherapy treatment
- Port catheter placement will be performed
- Suitable for Implantable Port Catheter Placement
Who cannot join
- Loss of sensation in the hands, amputation, injury, etc. that would prevent practice. to be
- Patients with chronic pain or anxiety disorders, using any analgesics or anxiolytics
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: The Effect of Sujok Therapy on Patient Comfort, Pain Intensity, and Anxiety Level in Cancer Patients With Port Catheter Placement: A Randomized, Placebo and Controlled Study
Cancer is a fatal disease characterized by uncontrolled growth and proliferation of tissues and organs in the human body. Among cancer treatments, chemotherapy is the most commonly used treatment method. The drugs used in chemotherapy cause vascular toxic effects during administration, frequent blood samples taken from the patient, antibiotic treatments applied, parenteral nutrition treatments. Subcutaneous venous port catheter (SCVPK), which is a permanent and long-term vascular access route that can be used for medical purposes and in emergency situations, is a frequently preferred and safe intravenous access route because it is not visible outside the body, is well tolerated by the patient, and has a low risk of infection. However, invasive procedures such as port needle insertion and replacement can also cause pain, anxiety and changes in vital signs in patients. Nowadays, the use of non-pharmacological approaches as well as pharmacological methods is increasing in the management of symptoms such as anxiety before the invasive procedure and pain during application in patients receiving chemotherapy treatment. These approaches improve the quality of life of patients and have a positive physiological effect. One of these approaches is sujok therapy. In Su Jok application; The reflection points of the organs are on the hands and feet. These points reflect to the body organ in that area and healing occurs. By finding the right point, energy flow is provided by massaging with appropriate applicators. This research will be conducted to examine the effect of Sujok therapy on pain intensity and anxiety level in cancer patients who have undergone port catheter placement.
The research will be conducted as a randomized experimental and placebo study with a pretest-posttest control group in the oncology service of Fethi Sekin City Hospital. 90 (30 experimental, 30 control, 30 placebo) cancer patients who accept the research and meet the sample criteria of the study will be subjected to port catheter application. Application areas for pain, anxiety and stress before the port catheter to the patients in the experimental group will be determined with the help of a probe (diagnostic stick), and seeds will be added to these points approximately 45 minutes before the application and fixed with a patch. For cancer patients in the placebo group, the same procedure will be performed with seeds that have a neutral effect on the body. No procedure will be applied to the patients in the control group. Patient Information Form, General Comfort Scale (GAS), Visual Analog Scale -Pain (VAS-P), Visual Analog Scale -Anxiety (VAS-A) and State-Trait Anxiety Scale were used as data collection tools. (DSKÖ) scale will be used. SPPS 21.0 (Statistical Programme for Social Sciences) package program will be used to evaluate the data obtained from the research. It is thought that if the objectives of the study are achieved, it will help reduce the level of pain and anxiety that may occur during and after port catheter application. In addition, it will contribute to the professional advancement of the project manager, which is a career development project. The positive results in this study will guide other interventions to increase the comfort level of cancer patients who will undergo port catheterization and reduce the level of pain and anxiety.
- Conditions
- Cancer, Chemotherapy Effect
- Being tested
- Su Jok
- Keywords
- Su Jok, Pain, Anxiety
- Medical subject headings
- Neoplasms, Pain, Anxiety Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Su JokBehavioural
Su Jok will be done
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental | Experimental | Su Jok will be done Receives: Behavioral: Su Jok |
| Control | No intervention | Not described |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
General Comfort Scale
It is a four-point Likert type consisting of 48 items to measure the expected comfort result of the patient in order to test the taxonomic structure created after completing the conceptual studies of comfort. In this research, the scale adapted to Turkish by Kuğuoğlu and Karabacak was used. The scale is a four/six point Likert type and contains a total of 48 items. A four-point Likert type was preferred in the study due to its ease of use. Scale sub-dimensions; relief (16 items), relaxation (17 items) and overcoming problems (15 items). The response patterns of the scale, which consists of positive and negative items, are given in mixed order. Accordingly, in positive statements, a high score (4p) indicates high comfort, a low score (1p) indicates low comfort, in negative items, a low score (1p) indicates high comfort, and a high score (4p) indicates low comfort. In the evaluation of the scale; The negative scores obtained are reverse coded and added to the positive items.
Measured: two hours later
Visual Analog Scale - Anxiety
The patients were asked to measure their anxiety level during rest or activity on a 10 cm long horizontal line.
is requested to show. The value 0 is at the beginning of the line and 10 is at the end. 10 indicates extreme anxiety, 0 indicates not at all.
It shows that there is no concern. VAS scale is used quite frequently during the evaluation of anxiety severity.
is used
Measured: two hours later
Visual Analog Scale -Agrı
It is used to convert some values that cannot be measured numerically into numerical values. Two extreme definitions of the parameter to be evaluated are written at both ends of a 100 mm line, and the patient is asked to indicate where his/her situation is appropriate on this line by drawing a line, placing a dot, or pointing.
Measured: two hours later
State-Trait Anxiety Scale
It is a scale developed to measure individuals' state and trait anxiety levels. It is a self-assessment scale whose Turkish validity and reliability studies have been conducted. In this study, the section of the scale measuring state anxiety was used to determine the state anxiety levels of the patients. State Anxiety Scale is a 4-point Likert type with 20 items and is scored according to the severity of the feelings, thoughts or behaviors expressed by the items as "not at all": 1, "somewhat": 2, "a lot": 3, "completely": 4. . The scale includes directly or reverse scored expressions.
Measured: two hours later
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted28 May 2024
- Study start10 Nov 2024
- Primary completion1 Mar 2025
- Study completion1 Aug 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for CancerStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Firat University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Gülcan Bahçecioğlu Turan, Firat University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06430177
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2024/07-28
- Status last verified
- Nov 2025
- First submitted
- 21 May 2024
- Last updated
- 18 Nov 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: It will be shared after it is finished
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 18 Nov 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of Sujok Therapy on Patient Comfort, Pain Intensity, and Anxiety Level in Cancer Patients With Port Catheter Placement: A Randomized, Placebo and Controlled Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06430177
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2024/07-28
- Conditions
- Cancer, Chemotherapy Effect
- Keywords
- Su Jok, Pain, Anxiety
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Firat UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 10 Nov 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Aug 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 28 May 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Cancer is a fatal disease characterized by uncontrolled growth and proliferation of tissues and organs in the human body. Among cancer treatments, chemotherapy is the most commonly used treatment method. The drugs used in chemotherapy cause vascular toxic effects during administration, frequent blood samples taken from the patient, antibiotic treatments applied, parenteral nutrition treatments. Subcutaneous venous port catheter (SCVPK), which is a permanent and long-term vascular access route that can be used for medical purposes and in emergency situations, is a frequently preferred and safe intravenous access route because it is not visible outside the body, is well tolerated by the patient, and has a low risk of infection. However, invasive procedures such as port needle insertion and replacement can also cause pain, anxiety and changes in vital signs in patients. Nowadays, the use of non-pharmacological approaches as well as pharmacological methods is increasing in the management of symptoms such as anxiety before the invasive procedure and pain during application in patients receiving chemotherapy treatment. These approaches improve the quality of life of patients and have a positive physiological effect. One of these approaches is sujok therapy. In Su Jok application; The reflection points of the organs are on the hands and feet. These points reflect to the body organ in that area and healing occurs. By finding the right point, energy flow is provided by massaging with appropriate applicators. This research will be conducted to examine the effect of Sujok therapy on pain intensity and anxiety level in cancer patients who have undergone port catheter placement.
The research will be conducted as a randomized experimental and placebo study with a pretest-posttest control group in the oncology service of Fethi Sekin City Hospital. 90 (30 experimental, 30 control, 30 placebo) cancer patients who accept the research and meet the sample criteria of the study will be subjected to port catheter application. Application areas for pain, anxiety and stress before the port catheter to the patients in the experimental group will be determined with the help of a probe (diagnostic stick), and seeds will be added to these points approximately 45 minutes before the application and fixed with a patch. For cancer patients in the placebo group, the same procedure will be performed with seeds that have a neutral effect on the body. No procedure will be applied to the patients in the control group. Patient Information Form, General Comfort Scale (GAS), Visual Analog Scale -Pain (VAS-P), Visual Analog Scale -Anxiety (VAS-A) and State-Trait Anxiety Scale were used as data collection tools. (DSKÖ) scale will be used. SPPS 21.0 (Statistical Programme for Social Sciences) package program will be used to evaluate the data obtained from the research. It is thought that if the objectives of the study are achieved, it will help reduce the level of pain and anxiety that may occur during and after port catheter application. In addition, it will contribute to the professional advancement of the project manager, which is a career development project. The positive results in this study will guide other interventions to increase the comfort level of cancer patients who will undergo port catheterization and reduce the level of pain and anxiety.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental | Experimental | Behavioral: Su JokSu Jok will be done |
| Control | No intervention | – |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 85 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Being over 18 years of age
- Ability to communicate adequately
- Being diagnosed with cancer
- Will receive chemotherapy treatment
- Port catheter placement will be performed
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Loss of sensation in the hands, amputation, injury, etc. that would prevent practice. to be
- Patients with chronic pain or anxiety disorders, using any analgesics or anxiolytics
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Su JokSu Jok will be done | Behavioural | Experimental |
Primary outcome
General Comfort Scale
Time frame: two hours later
It is a four-point Likert type consisting of 48 items to measure the expected comfort result of the patient in order to test the taxonomic structure created after completing the conceptual studies of comfort. In this research, the scale adapted to Turkish by Kuğuoğlu and Karabacak was used. The scale is a four/six point Likert type and contains a total of 48 items. A four-point Likert type was preferred in the study due to its ease of use. Scale sub-dimensions; relief (16 items), relaxation (17 items) and overcoming problems (15 items). The response patterns of the scale, which consists of positive and negative items, are given in mixed order. Accordingly, in positive statements, a high score (4p) indicates high comfort, a low score (1p) indicates low comfort, in negative items, a low score (1p) indicates high comfort, and a high score (4p) indicates low comfort. In the evaluation of the scale; The negative scores obtained are reverse coded and added to the positive items.
Visual Analog Scale - Anxiety
Time frame: two hours later
The patients were asked to measure their anxiety level during rest or activity on a 10 cm long horizontal line. is requested to show. The value 0 is at the beginning of the line and 10 is at the end. 10 indicates extreme anxiety, 0 indicates not at all. It shows that there is no concern. VAS scale is used quite frequently during the evaluation of anxiety severity. is used
Visual Analog Scale -Agrı
Time frame: two hours later
It is used to convert some values that cannot be measured numerically into numerical values. Two extreme definitions of the parameter to be evaluated are written at both ends of a 100 mm line, and the patient is asked to indicate where his/her situation is appropriate on this line by drawing a line, placing a dot, or pointing.
State-Trait Anxiety Scale
Time frame: two hours later
It is a scale developed to measure individuals' state and trait anxiety levels. It is a self-assessment scale whose Turkish validity and reliability studies have been conducted. In this study, the section of the scale measuring state anxiety was used to determine the state anxiety levels of the patients. State Anxiety Scale is a 4-point Likert type with 20 items and is scored according to the severity of the feelings, thoughts or behaviors expressed by the items as "not at all": 1, "somewhat": 2, "a lot": 3, "completely": 4. . The scale includes directly or reverse scored expressions.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 18 Nov 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. It will be shared after it is finished
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Su Jok in people with Cancer and Chemotherapy Effect, run by Firat University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 18 Nov 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
General Comfort Scale (time frame: two hours later). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 18 Nov 2025.