title: ARIX: a randomised trial of acupuncture v oral care sessions in patients with chronic xerostomia following treatment of head and neck cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Radiation treatment of head and neck cancer can cause chronic xerostomia which impairs patients' quality of life. The study reported here examined the efficacy of acupuncture in alleviating xerostomia symptoms especially dry mouth.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 145 patients with chronic radiation-induced xerostomia >18 months after treatments were recruited from seven UK cancer centres. The study employed a randomised crossover design with participants receiving two group sessions of oral care education and eight of acupuncture using standardised methods. Patient-reported outcome (PROs) measures were completed at baseline and weeks 5, 9, 13, 17, and 21. The primary outcome was improvement in dry mouth.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  saliva measurements were also carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acupuncture compared with oral care, produced significant reductions in patient reports of severe dry mouth (OR = 2.01, P = 0.031) sticky saliva (OR = 1.67, P = 0.048), needing to sip fluids to swallow food (OR = 2.08, P = 0.011) and in waking up at night to drink (OR = 1.71, P = 0.013). There were no significant changes in either stimulated or unstimulated saliva measurements over time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eight sessions of weekly group acupuncture compared with group oral care education provide significantly better relief of symptoms in patients suffering from chronic radiation-induced xerostomia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology,  Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals Trust, Sussex Cancer Centre, Brighton.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Simcock
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fallowfield
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Monson
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Solis-Trapala
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Parlour
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Langridge
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jenkins
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D057566:Self Report; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*