Measure the Meridian Energy Change of Terminal Hospice Patient Via Meridian Energy Analysis Device

Measure the Meridian Energy Change of Terminal Hospice Patient Via Meridian Energy Analysis Device to Evaluated the Relationship of Clinical Symptoms and Alternative Medicine Effect.

In the hospice ward, there are lots of suffered hospital patients with multiple physical discomfort related to terminal disease. Investigators want to use an objective measure instrument to monitor the effects of complementary and alternative medicine and clinical symptoms. First, investigators use the Meridian Energy Analysis Device (MEAD) to measure the bilateral 12 Yuan points (primary points) of terminal hospice patients. It provides the prediction value between terminal disease and the change of different meridian energy. Besides, the meridian energy value maybe predict the survival period. Then, the intervention of complementary and alternative medicine can also monitor via MEAD.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Survival; Hospice; Alternative Medicine; Skin Electric Conductance
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Infrared Lamp and Acupressure

Detailed Description

In the hospice ward, there are lots of suffered hospital patients with multiple physical discomfort related to terminal disease. It may be caused by cancer or multiple kinds of organ failure. The terminal hospital patients have symptoms such as pain, dyspnea, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, constipation, ileus or edema…, etc. Investigators want to use an objective measure instrument to monitor the effects of complementary and alternative medicine.

First, investigators use the Meridian Energy Analysis Device (MEAD) to measure the bilateral 12 Yuan points (primary points) of terminal hospice patients (divided to cancer, multiple kinds of organ failure). It provides the prediction value between terminal disease and the change of different meridian energy. Besides, the meridian energy value maybe predict the survival period. Then, investigators use the intervention of complementary and alternative medicine (like infrared lamp and acupressure…, etc.) to improve the quality of life in the terminal hospice patients. Also, investigators will use the Meridian Energy Analysis Device, pain scale, vital signs and quality of life scale (SF-36) to evaluate the effects of complementary and alternative medicine.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 200
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Taiwan
  • Changhua, Taiwan, 500
    • Changhua Christian Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 97 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients lived at our Changhua Christian Hospital hospice ward
• From 2019-02~2020-12, age 20 to 99 years old, volunteer patient

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unwillingness
• Wound or amputation near wrist or ankle
• Severe agitation or seizure patients

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: intervention of infrared lamp and acupressure; Measure the ankle and wrist acupoints skin conductance to evaluate the basic condition of terminal hospice patients. Then investigators use the infrared lamp and acupressure(tender points, PC6(neiguan) and ST36(zusanli) for one minutes) for our patient for the cold limbs, pain control and constipation problems.	Behavioral: Infrared Lamp and Acupressure; Measure the ankle and wrist acupoints skin conductance to evaluate the basic condition of terminal hospice patients. Then investigators use the infrared lamp and acupressure(tender points, PC6 and ST36 for one minutes) for our patient for the cold limbs, pain control and constipation problems.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The change of 24 points skin electric conductance over bilateral wrist and foot in terminal patients	Investigators use the meridian energy analysis device to measure the 24 points skin conductance over bilateral wrist and foot. The meridian energy analysis device is an electrophysiology tool to measure the skin micro-electrical currents(range from 0uA to 200uA). The higher skin conductance stands for better condition of patient. Investigators will evaluate the relationship between the skin conductances and clinical symptoms. Then investigators will check the effect via the skin electric conductance before and after the infrared lamp and acupressure intervention.	through hospitalization period, an average of 1 month (after admission baseline evaluation and till discharge)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Changhua Christian Hospital
• Investigators: Study Chair: Ming-Cheng Chung, Bachelor, Changhua Christian Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 18, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 30, 2020
• Study Completion (Actual): October 30, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 7, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 3, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): May 6, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 24, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 22, 2021
• Last Verified: January 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: complementary and alternative medicine; skin electric conductance; survival period
• Other Study ID Numbers: CCH-181018

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No