title: Receiving or not receiving acupuncture in a trial: the experience of participants recovering from breast cancer treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the experience of breast cancer patients who either received acupuncture or were allocated to the control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus group/interviews nested within our multi-site randomised controlled trial. Participants were recruited from the standard care and experimental arm. The interviews/focus groups were transcribed and analysed thematically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 302 eligible participants 13% (n = 40) contributed to the focus groups/interviews, across three study sites in the UK. Five common themes were identified, including: drivers to take part, the experience of receiving acupuncture, being allocated standard care (control) and reflections on taking part in the trial. The subgroup of control group participants (n = 9) reported disappointment on hearing their allocation, but recognised the value of their role to the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recipients of acupuncture reported beneficial effects in managing fatigue and related symptoms. The finding that control participants were disappointed warrants further investigation and consideration when designing interventional studies.
authors.affiliation: The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Peter.Mackereth@christie.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Mackereth
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peter
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Social Work & Midwifery, University of Manchester, United Kingdom; The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Bardy
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Joy
authors.affiliation: The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Filshie
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jacqueline
authors.affiliation: Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery, Kings College London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Finnegan-John
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Jennifer
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Social Work & Midwifery, University of Manchester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Molassiotis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alexander
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010358:Patient Participation
keywords: Acupuncture; Cancer; Clinical trial; Control group; Fatigue