Comparing Acupuncture vs. Sham Acupuncture for the Management of Hot Flashes in Prostate Cancer Patients Receiving Hormone Therapy

Hot flashes are a common and bothersome side effect experienced by men receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer. Symptoms may include sudden warmth, sweating, flushing, sleep disturbance, fatigue, mood changes, and reduced quality of life. Although medications such as antidepressants may help some patients, these treatments may also cause side effects and are not effective for all individuals. Acupuncture has been studied as a non-drug approach for management of hot flashes, but additional prospective studies are needed in men with prostate cancer receiving ADT. This study is a prospective clinical study evaluating acupuncture for the management of ADT-related hot flashes in men with prostate cancer. Participants will undergo acupuncture treatment during the active treatment phase according to the study treatment schedule. The study will evaluate changes in: Hot flash frequency Hot flash severity Hot flash-related quality of life Interference of hot flashes with daily activities, sleep, mood, and social functioning Patient-reported outcomes will be collected using standardized symptom assessments, including: A Hot Flash Daily Diary The Hot Flash Related Daily Interference Scale (HFRDIS) Participants will complete a daily hot flash diary during predefined 7-day assessment windows at baseline, during treatment, at the end of treatment, and during follow-up. The diary records the number and severity of hot flashes experienced over a 24-hour period. Participants will also complete questionnaires evaluating how hot flashes affect daily activities and quality of life. The study includes follow-up assessments after completion of acupuncture treatment to evaluate the durability of symptom improvement over time. The primary objective of the study is to assess whether acupuncture reduces hot flash burden in men receiving ADT for prostate cancer. Secondary objectives include evaluation of quality-of-life outcomes, symptom trajectory over time, treatment feasibility, and patient adherence to acupuncture-based symptom management.