Could a painless electrical patch help cancer patients sleep better after surgery?

NCT ID NCT07654075

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tests whether a non-invasive technique called transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) can prevent or treat sleep problems after cancer surgery. TEAS uses mild electrical pulses on specific points on the skin, based on acupuncture, without needles. The trial includes 176 adults undergoing surgery for gastrointestinal or gynecologic cancer. Half receive real TEAS before and after surgery, while the other half get a sham device that looks identical but delivers no stimulation. Researchers will measure sleep quality, pain levels, and recovery up to 30 days after surgery.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS)

What this could lead to

If it works, this could offer a drug-free way to help cancer patients sleep better and recover more comfortably after surgery.

What could go wrong

This is a single-center trial with 176 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The sham control group still receives standard care, so any benefit may be small or due to placebo.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

cancer

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University

    Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030001, China

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••