Table 1

Inclusion and exclusion criteria of participants

Inclusion criteriaExclusion criteria

  1. Diagnosed with early-stage female BC without distant metastases (from stages I to IIIa).

  2. Have experienced at least moderate FSDSC with a score of ≥4 on an 11-point NRS (0=‘no symptom’,10=‘worst symptom’) for fatigue, sleep disturbance and depression during the past month.

  3. Had completed chemotherapy for at least 1 month and up to 3 years (to capture persistent symptoms)

  4. Have no scheduled chemotherapy or radiotherapy during the study.

  5. Being willing to participate in this study and consenting in writing.

  1. Currently using pharmaceutical drugs (eg, antidepressant medications or hypnotics) to treat symptoms of fatigue, sleep disturbance, or depression.

  2. Inability (or difficulty) in following the study procedures and instructions due to being extremely weak and/or cognitively impaired.

  3. Have received any type of somatic acupressure interventions during the past 6 months.

  4. Currently involved in any other studies.

  • BC, breast cancer; FSDSC, fatigue–sleep disturbance–depression symptom cluster; NRS, Numeric Rating Scale.