Efficacy of Electroacupuncture Compared With Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation for Functional Constipation

Sponsor
Guang'anmen Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (Other)
Overall Status
Completed
CT.gov ID
NCT03391635
Collaborator
(none)
70
1
2
30
2.3

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

The objective of this trial is to compare the efficacy of electroacupuncture versus transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation for functional constipation

Condition or Disease Intervention/Treatment Phase
  • Device: Electroacupuncture
  • Device: TranscutaneousElectricNerveStimulation
N/A

Detailed Description

Both electroacupuncture(EA) therapy and transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation(TENS) are safe and effective for functional constipation, but no head to head comparing trial was conducted.

Methods:102 participants with functional constipation will be recruited and randomly allocated into the EA group and the TENS group.Participants in both groups will receive EA or TENS treatment at Tianshu(ST 25), Fujie(SP 14) and Shangju xu(ST 37) 3 times a week for 8 weeks.

Study Design

Study Type:
Interventional
Actual Enrollment :
70 participants
Allocation:
Randomized
Intervention Model:
Parallel Assignment
Masking:
Double (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary Purpose:
Treatment
Official Title:
Efficacy of Electroacupuncture Compared With Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation for Functional Constipation:a Randomized Controlled Trial
Actual Study Start Date :
Jul 1, 2018
Actual Primary Completion Date :
Dec 30, 2019
Actual Study Completion Date :
Dec 30, 2020

Arms and Interventions

Arm Intervention/Treatment
Experimental: Electroacupuncture

The treatment consists of 3 times a week for 8 weeks.Huatuo Brand needles (0.30×50mm or 0.30×70mm) and the SDZ-V EA apparatus (Suzhou Medical Appliance) will be used for ST25, SP14 and ST37.After acupuncture,the needle handle will be connected with the electrode in the electroacupuncture instrument. The parameters of the electric acupuncture apparatus:Dilatational wave,the frequency is 2/10Hz,the electric current intensity is 0.1mA-1.0mA.

Device: Electroacupuncture
Participants will receive electroacupuncture at bilateral ST25, SP14 and ST37 for 30 minutes each time,3 times a week for 8 weeks.
Other Names:
  • EA
  • Active Comparator: TranscutaneousElectricNerveStimulation

    The treatment consists of 3 times a week for 8 weeks.Huatuo Brand electrode patch (50mm×50mm) and the SDZ-V EA apparatus (Suzhou Medical Appliance) will be used for ST25, SP14 and ST37. The parameters of the electric acupuncture apparatus:Dilatational wave,the frequency is 2/10Hz,the electric current intensity is 2mA-5mA.

    Device: TranscutaneousElectricNerveStimulation
    Participants will receive transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation at bilateral ST25, SP14 and ST37 for 30 minutes each time,3 times a week for 8 weeks.
    Other Names:
  • TENS
  • Outcome Measures

    Primary Outcome Measures

    1. The proportion of participants with an average increasing of one or more complete spontaneous bowel movements from baseline at week 8. [Baseline,week 8]

      The proportion of participants with an average increasing of one or more complete spontaneous bowel movements from baseline at week 8.

    Secondary Outcome Measures

    1. The proportion of participants with an average increasing of one or more complete spontaneous bowel movements [Baseline,week 4,week 20 and week 32]

      The proportion of participants with an average increasing of one or more complete spontaneous bowel movements from baseline at weeks 4 , 20 and 32.

    2. Change number in CSBMS [Baseline,week 4,week 8, week 20 and week 32]

      The change in the number of CSBMs at weeks 4 , 8 , 20 and 32.

    3. Change number in SBMS [Baseline,week 4,week 8, week 20 and week 32]

      The change in the number of SBMs at weeks 4 , 8 , 20 and 32.

    4. The proportion of participants with type3 or type 4 stool character [Baseline,week 4,week 8, week 20 and week 32]

      According to the BRISTOL stool form scale, the proportion of participants with type3 or type 4 at weeks 4 , 8 , 20 and 32

    5. Change number of average score in defecation difficulty [Baseline,week 4,week 8, week 20 and week 32]

      The change in average score of difficulty in defecation at weeks 4 , 8 , 20 and 32

    6. Change number of PAC-QOL score [Baseline,week 8]

      The change in total score on the patients assessment of constipation quality of life questionnaire(PAC-QOL) total score at the end of week 8, compared with baseline.

    7. The proportion and average amount of using cathartics [weeks -1 , 4 , 8 , 20 and 32.]

      The proportion and average amount of using cathartics at weeks -1 , 4 , 8 , 20 and 32.

    Eligibility Criteria

    Criteria

    Ages Eligible for Study:
    18 Years to 75 Years
    Sexes Eligible for Study:
    All
    Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
    No
    Inclusion Criteria:
    1. Conforming to the criteria for the diagnosis of functional constipation in Rome III standard;

    2. Aged of 18 to 75 years;

    3. No medication for constipation has been used for at least 2 weeks before treatment. Except for emergency treatment, it has not received acupuncture treatment for constipation in the past 3 months, and has not participated in other ongoing clinical research.

    Exclusion Criteria:
    1. Constipation caused by irritable bowel syndrome and organically or medicated; secondary to endocrine, metabolic, neurogenic, or surgical constipation;

    2. Subjects with serious heart, liver, kidney damage or cognitive impairment, aphasia, mental disorders, or the inability to cooperate with the examination and treatment.

    3. Pregnant or lactation patients;

    4. Subjects with abdominal aortic aneurysm, abnormal enlargement of liver and spleen and so on.

    5. Subjects with coagulation dysfunction or anticoagulants such as warfarin and heparin have been used all the time.

    6. Subjects installed with the cardiac pacemaker.

    Contacts and Locations

    Locations

    Site City State Country Postal Code
    1 Guang'anmen Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Beijing China 100053

    Sponsors and Collaborators

    • Guang'anmen Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences

    Investigators

    • Principal Investigator: Yuxiao Zeng, Guang'anmen Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences

    Study Documents (Full-Text)

    None provided.

    More Information

    Publications

    None provided.
    Responsible Party:
    Yuxiao Zeng, Postgraduate student of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Guang'anmen Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences
    ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
    NCT03391635
    Other Study ID Numbers:
    • GAMHospital20171222
    First Posted:
    Jan 5, 2018
    Last Update Posted:
    Mar 16, 2022
    Last Verified:
    Mar 1, 2022
    Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:
    No
    Plan to Share IPD:
    No
    Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product:
    No
    Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product:
    No
    Keywords provided by Yuxiao Zeng, Postgraduate student of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Guang'anmen Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences
    Additional relevant MeSH terms:

    Study Results

    No Results Posted as of Mar 16, 2022