NCT01904578

Brief Summary

Sleep disorder is a common problem in menopausal women and the decrease in the sleep leads to poor daily activity. Traditional Chinese acupressure is a noninvasive, effective and safe technique that can be easily taught to menopausal women so that they apply it as a self-care method and a manager of sleep disruption. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of acupressure on sleep quality of postmenopausal women.This double blind randomized clinical trial was performed on 120 qualified menopausal women at the age of 41-65 years; and sleep quality was measured with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI ).Participants were randomly assigned to an acupressure group, a sham acupressure group and a control group by two time randomized method (systematic and simple randomized). These interventions were carried out for 4 consecutive weeks. Participants in acupressure group and sham acupressure group learned to carry out acupressure technique as a self care at home with the simultaneous massage techniques that were to be performed 2 hours before sleep, whereas only conversation was used in the control group. The statistical software package for social science (SPSS) Version 17 was used for data analysis.

Trial Health

100
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
120

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for phase_2

Timeline
Completed

Started Feb 2010

Shorter than P25 for phase_2

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

February 1, 2010

Completed
1 year until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

February 1, 2011

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

February 1, 2011

Completed
1.4 years until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

July 7, 2012

Completed
1 year until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

July 22, 2013

Completed
Last Updated

July 23, 2013

Status Verified

February 1, 2010

Enrollment Period

1 year

First QC Date

July 7, 2012

Last Update Submit

July 21, 2013

Conditions

Keywords

MenopauseSleep qualityAcupressure

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • treatment of quality of sleep

    treatment of quality of sleep by acupressure.sleep quality was measured with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI ).

    4 consecutive weeks

Study Arms (3)

true acupressure

EXPERIMENTAL

Massage the effective pressure points as a self-care method at home \[ Four acupoints were chosen for subjects in the acupressure group. They were Shenmen on the wrist crease, Sanyinjiao point (SP6) on both feet, Fengchi on the hairline of the back neck (occipital area)and Yintang, at the top of the nose on the centre line between the ends of the eyebrows\] for 10 minutes. It was done 1 to 2 hours before sleeping, each night (except Fridays) by circular massage with a 1 Cm circle diameter.

Other: true accupressure

sham acupressure

SHAM COMPARATOR

Massage the sham pressure points as a self-care method at home for 10 minutes. It was done 1 to 2 hours before sleeping, each night (except Fridays) by circular massage with a 1 Cm circle diameter.

Other: sham acupressure

control

NO INTERVENTION

The control group only received the weekly control of blood pressure and speech communication .

Interventions

Four acupoints were chosen for subjects in the acupressure group. They were Shenmen on the wrist crease, Sanyinjiao point (SP6) on both feet, Fengchi on the hairline of the back neck (occipital area)and Yintang, at the top of the nose on the center line between the ends of the eyebrows.

true acupressure

Non-acupoints, which were 1 to 3 traditional Chinese unit of length (CUN) away from true acupoints, were used in sham acupressure group.These points were out of the route of energy

sham acupressure

Eligibility Criteria

Age41 Years - 65 Years
Sexfemale
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • spending at least 12 months after amenorrhea or follicle stimulating hormone
  • (FSH) Serum level ≥ 40,
  • healthy of the pressure points,
  • having a full consciousness
  • having an acceptable ability of listening
  • speaking to receive training
  • doing the self- care techniques at home,
  • no mental and physical disorders,
  • getting a score higher than 5 from the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
  • able to sit for about 30 minutes.

You may not qualify if:

  • having specific eating diets,
  • addicted to narcotic drugs,
  • using the drugs causing sleep disorders,
  • suffering from special disease,
  • taking hormonal drugs during 3 last months,
  • using herbal medicine to improve the menopausal symptoms,
  • BMI higher than 30,
  • having the moderate and severe depression based on Beck Depression Inventory,
  • feeling of severe tiredness/ fatigue and anxiety,
  • having circular job specially night job
  • lack of cooperation with researchers.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Sleep Disorders, IntrinsicDyssomniasSleep Wake DisordersNervous System DiseasesMental Disorders

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 2
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
DOUBLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Instructor of Midwifery

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

July 7, 2012

First Posted

July 22, 2013

Study Start

February 1, 2010

Primary Completion

February 1, 2011

Study Completion

February 1, 2011

Last Updated

July 23, 2013

Record last verified: 2010-02