Self-Acupressure App Reduces Fatigue and Improves QoL in Ovarian Cancer: Study

A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that an app-based self-acupressure intervention significantly reduced cancer-related fatigue in women with ovarian cancer when compared to usual care. Nearly 60% of participants no longer experienced fatigue after using the app and this intervention also led to notable improvements in overall quality of life.

Fatigue is widely reported among ovarian cancer survivors and is often linked to poor sleep and diminished quality of life. While self-acupressure has been recommended in clinical guidelines as a non-drug intervention, its real-world use has been limited by access barriers, lack of training, and uncertainty about proper technique. This study determined whether delivering this therapy through a mobile app could overcome those challenges.

From October 2019 to December 2023, this study enrolled 171 fatigued ovarian cancer survivors with an average age of 56. Participants were divided into a group practicing true self-acupressure (TSA), another performing sham self-acupressure (SSA), and a control group receiving usual care (UC). Both TSA and SSA were taught through a mobile app over a 6-week period.

The primary goal was to measure changes in fatigue using the Brief Fatigue Inventory. By the end of the six-week intervention, results showed a clear advantage for participants using true self-acupressure. Nearly 59% of women in the TSA group achieved clinically normal fatigue levels, when compared to 51% in the SSA group and just under 18% in the usual care group.

Even after an 18-week washout period, the participants who had practiced self-acupressure continued to report reduced fatigue levels. Both TSA and SSA groups maintained statistically significant improvements when compared to usual care, suggesting that even the act of structured self-care may carry lasting benefits.

Despite fatigue being closely tied to sleep issues, neither true nor sham self-acupressure significantly improved sleep quality. This indicates that while the intervention may boost energy levels, it does not necessarily address underlying sleep disturbances.

Also, quality of life outcomes showed a more distinct pattern. Only the true self-acupressure group experienced significant improvements when compared to usual care, illuminating the importance of correct technique and targeted pressure points.

Overall, these results point to a promising future for digital health tools in supportive cancer care. Using mobile apps, patients can learn and apply therapeutic techniques independently, reducing reliance on in-person visits and expanding access to care.

Source:

Zick, S. M., Chen, D., Harris, R. E., Kruger, G., Runyon, A., Sen, A., Snyder, S., & Pearce, C. L. (2026). Self-acupressure for fatigue in patients surviving ovarian cancer: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Network Open, 9(2), e2556357. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.56357