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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05702255

Self- Administered Acupressure for Diarrhea Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome

This study aims to assess the effect of active self- administered acupressure compared to sham self- administered acupressure on the health outcome for patient with diarrhea predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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Key information

Conditions

Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Diarrhea

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

outpatient clinics of Main University Hospital

Alexandria, Egypt

About this study

Research suggests promising benefits of acupuncture in terms of symptom control and quality of life improvements in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. but the cost of the needle and the invasive nature of the procedure decreases patient compliance with acupuncture. in this respect, acupressure can be taught to patients to allow them to perform it themselves, instead of being administered by practitioners. Self-administered acupressure is less time-intensive, low-cost, and flexible to perform. Nurses involved in irritable bowel syndrome patient care play an active role in the practitioner-patient relationship By assessing the specific symptoms that are present, determining the severity of symptoms and the impact on the irritable bowel syndrome patient's life, and being knowledgeable of available treatment options, the nurse involved in irritable bowel syndrome care becomes an essential conduit of information and a valuable facilitator of a positive practitioner-patient therapeutic relationship. In this way, nurses can help to limit the negative consequences of this common disorder and improve overall treatment outcomes in this population. . Thus this study will be conducted to assess the effectiveness of active self-administered acupressure on diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Diagnosed with diarrhea irritable bowel syndrome symptoms following Rome IV diagnostic criteria
  • Agreed to be on a fixed dose of the pharmacological therapy throughout the study

Exclusion criteria

  • Patients with severe lesions in major organs such as the heart, liver, and kidney, hematopoietic diseases, or tumors
  • Eating disorders
  • History of major abdominal surgery
  • History of neurological and mental illness
  • Usage of other treatment rather than the medical treatment regularly 2 weeks before randomization and throughout the study
  • Previous history of drug or alcohol abuse 6 months before randomization
  • Pregnant and lactating women.
  • Patient reporting of adequate relief of their irritable bowel syndrome symptoms the week preceding the randomization
  • Patient has too mild symptoms ( obtaining less than 75 on Irritable bowel syndrome symptoms severity scale at the baseline assessment)
  • Currently participating in other clinical trials

Treatment and study plan

Active acupressure

Other

Participants will receive training (2 sessions, 2 days a part) by a training researcher. Patients will be taught on the acupoints location and the acupressure technique. Participants will be verified for the correct location of the acupoints, acupressure technique and strength. Participants will be instructed to use thumb or middle finger to self- press each acupoint using circular movements. The force of pressing must be sufficiently strong but still within a comfortable range. A lubricant will be uses to decrease friction between the acupoints and the finger. Follow up evaluation will be at the end of the week 2 and week 4 .The training researcher will make weekly calls to remind participants to perform acupressure and to answer questions

Sham acuptressure

Other

The same protocol as the active acupressure group.

Primary outcomes

  1. Baseline mean of irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptom Severity Score

    Time frame: Immediately before assigning the participants to the study groups

    It is five item questionnaire measuring frequency and intensity of abdominal pain, the severity of abdominal distension, dissatisfaction with bowel habits, and the interference of IBS with daily life. Subjects respond to each question on a 100-point visual analogue scale. The total score ranges from 0 to 500. Subjects can be categorized as having mild (75-175), moderate (175-300), or severe (>300) disease

  2. Change from the baseline irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptom Severity Score at 2 weeks

    Time frame: after 2 weeks from the baseline

    t is five item questionnaire measuring frequency and intensity of abdominal pain, the severity of abdominal distension, dissatisfaction with bowel habits, and the interference of IBS with daily life. Subjects respond to each question on a 100-point visual analogue scale. The total score ranges from 0 to 500. Subjects can be categorized as having mild (75-175), moderate (175-300), or severe (>300) disease

  3. Change from the baseline irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptom Severity Score at 4 weeks

    Time frame: after 4 weeks from the baseline

    t is five item questionnaire measuring frequency and intensity of abdominal pain, the severity of abdominal distension, dissatisfaction with bowel habits, and the interference of IBS with daily life. Subjects respond to each question on a 100-point visual analogue scale. The total score ranges from 0 to 500. Subjects can be categorized as having mild (75-175), moderate (175-300), or severe (>300) disease

  4. Irritable Bowel Syndrome Adequate Relief question

    Time frame: At the baseline

    It is a dichotomous single item that asks participants "Over the past week have you had adequate relief of your irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms?" . A responder was defined as a patient who answered this question affirmatively.

  5. Irritable Bowel Syndrome Adequate Relief question

    Time frame: After 2 weeks from the baseline

    It is a dichotomous single item that asks participants "Over the past week have you had adequate relief of your irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms?" . A responder was defined as a patient who answered this question affirmatively.

  6. Irritable Bowel Syndrome Adequate Relief question

    Time frame: After 4 weeks from the baseline

    It is a dichotomous single item that asks participants "Over the past week have you had adequate relief of your irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms?" . A responder was defined as a patient who answered this question affirmatively.

  7. Mean stool frequency after 2 weeks

    Time frame: After 2 weeks from the patient endorsement

    Defined by the bi-weekly change of frequency of defecation,patient will report the number of defecation per day to calculate it.

  8. Mean change of stool frequency after 4 weeks

    Time frame: After 4 weeks from the patient endorsement

    Defined by the bi-weekly change of frequency of defecation,patient will report the number of defecation per day to calculate it.

  9. Stool consistency

    Time frame: at the baseline

    Defined by the Bristol Stool Form Scale, It is an ordinal scale of stool types ranging from the hardest (Type 1) to the softest (Type 7). Types 1 and2 are considered to be abnormally hard stools while Types 6 and 7 are considered abnormally loose/liquid stools. Type 3, 4 and 5 are considered to be the most normal stool type

  10. Change in the frequency of stool consistency at 2 weeks from the baseline

    Time frame: after 2 weeks from baseline

    defined by the Bristol Stool Form Scale

  11. Change in the frequency of stool consistency at 4 weeks from the baseline

    Time frame: after 4 weeks

    Defined by the Bristol Stool Form Scale, It is an ordinal scale of stool types ranging from the hardest (Type 1) to the softest (Type 7). Types 1 and2 are considered to be abnormally hard stools while Types 6 and 7 are considered abnormally loose/liquid stools. Type 3, 4 and 5 are considered to be the most normal stool type

Secondary outcomes

  1. Demographic and clinical data

    Time frame: before assignment of the participants to the study groups

    A questionnaire will be developed to collect data about participants' age, gender, body mass index, physical activity status, diet, smoking status, medication used.

  2. the baseline mean of psychological distress measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale

    Time frame: at the baseline

    the scale contains 14 items, seven statements on each sub-scale which assess symptoms experienced during the past week on four-point rating scale (0 to 3); a higher score depicts a worse condition. For each sub-scale the maximum score is 21. A score of ≥11 is considered a clinically significant disorder, whereas a score between 8 and 10 suggests a mild disorder

  3. Change from the baseline mean of the psychological distress measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale at 4 weeks

    Time frame: after 4 weeks from the baseline

    the scale contains 14 items, seven statements on each sub-scale which assess symptoms experienced during the past week on four-point rating scale (0 to 3); a higher score depicts a worse condition. For each sub-scale the maximum score is 21. A score of ≥11 is considered a clinically significant disorder, whereas a score between 8 and 10 suggests a mild disorder

  4. Baseline mean of the quality of Life

    Time frame: at the baseline

    it will be measured by the irritable bowel syndrome quality of Life questionnaire. It consists of 34 items that assess the degree to which irritable bowel syndrome disturbed quality of life for a subject over the past 30 days through eight sub-scales. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale ranging from 1 to 5 with higher values indicating a lower quality of life.

  5. Change from the baseline mean of the quality of life at 4 weeks

    Time frame: Four weeks after the baseline assessment

    it will be measured by the irritable bowel syndrome quality of Life questionnaire. It consists of 34 items that assess the degree to which irritable bowel syndrome disturbed quality of life for a subject over the past 30 days through eight sub-scales. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale ranging from 1 to 5 with higher values indicating a lower quality of life.

  6. Related adverse Events

    Time frame: from the patients endorsement till one week after study completion

    An unfavorable change in the health of a participants that happens during a clinical study or within a week after the study has ended. This change may or may not be caused by the acupressure.

  7. Adherence to the to active and sham self-administered acupressure of the study.

    Time frame: throughout study completion, an average of 4 months

    The adherence will be calculated as percentage of planned sessions of acupressure, and adherence rate above 80% was set as a minimum requirement to be regarded as acceptable

  8. use of rescue medicine

    Time frame: throughout study completion, an average of 4 months

    participants will be asked to report the use of rescue medicine for diarrhea or gastrointestinal symptoms

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Alexandria University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effect of Self- Administered Acupressure on Diarrhea Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patients' Health Outcomes: a Double Blind- Sham Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2023
First posted
Jan 27, 2023
Registry last updated
Apr 30, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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