Table 1 Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of the participants (N = 114)
Variables | True AA (n = 38) (%) | Sham AA (n = 38) (%) | Standard Care (n = 38) (%) | Total (n = 114) (%) | Homogeneity Statistics (p) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Age (Mean ± SD) | 46.2 ± 7.1 | 47.9 ± 9.9 | 48.4 ± 9.3 | 47.5 ± 8.8 | 0.54 |
Education background | |||||
 Primary school | 18 (47.4%) | 19 (50.0%) | 17 (44.7%) | 54 (47.4%) | 0.27 |
 Secondary school | 6 (15.8%) | 10 (26.3%) | 8 (21.1%) | 24 (21.1%) | |
 High school/technical school | 11 (28.9%) | 7 (18.4%) | 5 (13.2%) | 23 (20.2%) | |
 College diploma/university degree | 3 (7.9%) | 2 (5.3%) | 8 (21.1%) | 13 (11.4%) | |
Marital status | |||||
 Single | 1 (2.6%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | 1 (0.9%) |  > 0.99 |
 Married | 37 (97.4%) | 38 (100%) | 38 (100%) | 113 (99.1%) | |
Employment status | |||||
 Professional | 8 (21.1%) | 5 (13.2%) | 6 (15.8%) | 19 (16.7%) | 0.91 |
 Manual work | 8 (21.1%) | 7 (18.4%) | 7 (18.4%) | 22 (19.3%) | |
 Housewife | 17 (44.7%) | 14 (36.8%) | 16 (42.1%) | 47 (41.2%) | |
 Admin/clerical | 2 (5.3%) | 4 (10.5%) | 3 (7.9%) | 9 (7.9%) | |
 Retired | 1 (2.6%) | 4 (10.5%) | 4 (10.5%) | 9 (7.9%) | |
 Other | 2 (5.3%) | 4 (10.5%) | 2 (5.3%) | 8 (7.0%) | |
Religious background | |||||
 Buddhist | 13 (34.2%) | 14 (36.8%) | 11 (28.9%) | 38 (33.3%) | 0.32 |
 Christian | 4 (10.5%) | 0 (0.0%) | 2 (5.3%) | 6 (5.3%) | |
 None | 21 (55.3%) | 24 (63.2%) | 25 (65.8%) | 70 (61.4%) | |
Family monthly income | |||||
  < 3000 CNY | 6 (15.8%) | 8 (21.1%) | 10 (26.3%) | 24 (21.1%) | 0.22 |
 3000–6000 CNY | 15 (39.5%) | 22 (57.9%) | 16 (42.1%) | 53 (46.5%) | |
 6001–10,000 CNY | 13 (34.2%) | 5 (13.2%) | 11 (28.9%) | 29 (25.4%) | |
  > 10,000 CNY | 4 (10.5%) | 3 (7.9%) | 1 (2.6%) | 8 (7.0%) | |
Medical insurance | |||||
 Free government medical service | 3 (7.9%) | 1 (2.6%) | 4 (10.5%) | 8 (7.0%) | 0.23 |
 Social insurance | 12 (31.6%) | 14 (36.8%) | 17 (44.7%) | 43 (37.7%) | |
 New rural cooperative medical service | 22 (57.9%) | 17 (44.7%) | 15 (39.5%) | 54 (47.4%) | |
 Self-financed | 1 (2.6%) | 6 (15.8%) | 2 (5.3%) | 9 (7.9%) | |
Cancer Stage | |||||
 Stage I | 5 (13.2%) | 5 (13.2%) | 5 (13.2%) | 15 (13.2%) | 0.43 |
 Stage II | 19 (50.0%) | 26 (68.4%) | 20 (52.6%) | 65 (57.0%) | |
 Stage III | 14 (36.8%) | 7 (18.4%) | 13 (34.2%) | 34 (29.8%) | |
Surgery | |||||
 Modified radical mastectomy | 24 (63.2%) | 30 (78.9%) | 27 (71.1%) | 81 (71.1%) | 0.50 |
 Simple mastectomy | 1 (2.6%) | 2 (5.3%) | 2 (5.3%) | 5 (4.4%) | |
 Breast-conserving surgery | 2 (5.3%) | 0 (0.0%) | 2 (5.3%) | 4 (3.5%) | |
 Other | 3 (7.9%) | 1 (2.6%) | 4 (10.5%) | 8 (7.0%) | |
 NA | 8 (21.1%) | 5 (13.2%) | 3 (7.9%) | 16 (14.0%) | |
Chemotherapy combination | |||||
 AC/AC-T combination | 15 (39.5%) | 14 (36.8%) | 12 (31.6%) | 41 (36.0%) | 0.99 |
 EC/EC-T/EC-D combination | 20 (52.6%) | 21 (55.3%) | 22 (57.9%) | 63 (55.3%) | |
 TC combination | 2 (5.3%) | 2 (5.3%) | 2 (5.3%) | 6 (5.3%) | |
 Other a | 1 (2.6%) | 1 (2.6%) | 2 (5.3%) | 4 (3.5%) | |
Antiemetic medication | |||||
 5-HT3 antagonists + dexamethasone | 22 (57.9%) | 23 (60.5%) | 22 (57.9%) | 67 (58.8%) |  > 0.99 |
 5-HT3 antagonists only | 16 (42.1%) | 15 (39.5%) | 15 (39.5%) | 46 (40.4%) | |
 Dexamethasone only | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | 1 (2.6%) | 1 (0.9%) | |
Risk factor for CINV | |||||
 Aged less than 50 years old | 25 (65.8%) | 23 (60.5%) | 19 (50.0%) | 67 (58.8%) | 0.36 |
 History of morning sickness | 26 (68.4%) | 27 (71.1%) | 19 (50.0%) | 72 (63.2%) | 0.12 |
 History of motion sickness | 18 (47.4%) | 16 (42.1%) | 13 (34.2%) | 47 (41.2%) | 0.50 |
 History of labyrinthitis | 1 (2.6%) | 1 (2.6%) | 1 (2.6%) | 3 (2.6%) |  > 0.99 |
Number of risk factor for CINV | |||||
 3 risk factors or above | 11 (28.9%) | 7 (18.4%) | 7 (18.4%) | 25 (21.9%) | 0.44 |
 Less than 3 risk factors | 27 (71.1%) | 31 (81.6%) | 31 (81.6%) | 89 (78.1%) | |