NCT03199495

Brief Summary

Contrast to conventional Western medicine, traditional Chinese medicine is the most common used therapy of complementary and alternative medicine. Taiwan inherits traditional Chinese culture, and the people popularly accept traditional Chinese medicine for general diseases. However, most patients with acute or critical illness are used to admit to emergency department for medical services, and then transfer to the department of related specialist for further treatment. During the course of staying at emergent observation room, some diseases do not meet the criteria of admission and keep for evaluation. The longer of staying at emergent observation room the more waste medical resources. The Chinese medicine department of Changhua Christian hospital has treated patients, who consulted us at their own dispense, with subjective discomfort but remained at the emergent observation room. Detailed contents of this study include the Chinese and Western medicine, pharmaceutical, nursing cooperation mode, monitoring clinical effect of treating of the patients diagnosed with intestinal obstruction or ileus who complain about nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, abdominal distension or constipation.And the patients were assigned to the control and treatment group. Then we give the treatment group with the electroacupuncture treatment,and the control groupe with the Chinese medicine seeds and the transcutaneous nerve stimulation (no power).The patients were diagnosed with objective analysis of tongue diagnosis, pulse diagnosis, heart rate variability, and questionnaire of pain. Hope that we can assess the efficacy of both two different treatment,and also assess the cost of medical care, and try to complete the syndromes statistical analysis of traditional Chinese medicine for abdominal pain, building the relevance of Chinese medicine physical assessment teaching and clinical efficacy. The most important of this clinical teaching is that, this is a good opportunity for Chinese medicine and Western medicine to cooperate with each other at the emergency department to confirm the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine, not only in the field of chronic or geriatric diseases, but also in the field of emergency with the evidence base. This factually achieves communication and integration of Chinese and Western medicine, and benefits the public.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
60

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Apr 2017

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

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

April 17, 2017

Completed
2 months until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

June 13, 2017

Completed
14 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

June 27, 2017

Completed
10 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

April 16, 2018

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

April 16, 2018

Completed
Last Updated

February 18, 2019

Status Verified

February 1, 2019

Enrollment Period

12 months

First QC Date

June 13, 2017

Last Update Submit

February 14, 2019

Conditions

Keywords

traditional Chinese medicineelectroacupunctureabdominal pain

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Assessed the change of pain

    The primary outcome evaluation was the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain. Visual analog scale is graded from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain) and has proven its usefulness and clinical validity for the evaluation of pain. Patients were evaluated at two timepoints in this study: intervention (VAS-1), after intervention (VAS-2), 3 days after the intervention (VAS-3).

    Before intervention/ 15 minutes after intervention/ 3 days after the intervention

  • Assessed the change of pain

    The primary outcome evaluation was the the brief pain inventory (BPI) for pain. Brief pain inventory is used to assess the severity of pain and the impact of pain on daily functions. Patients were evaluated at two timepoints in this study: intervention (BPI-1), after intervention (BPI-2), 3 days after the intervention (BPI-3).

    Before intervention/ 15 minutes after intervention/ 3 days after the intervention

Secondary Outcomes (2)

  • The duration that patient stay at emergency department (ED) .

    The duration is from the post-treatment to after 3 days that the participant may be discharged.

  • The ratio is that patient goes to emergency department (ED) because of the same chief complain unexpectedly.

    The duration is from the post-treatment to after 3 days that the participant may be discharged.

Study Arms (2)

electroacupuncture

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants were randomized divided into experimental and control groups .Acupuncture included Hegu (LI 4), Neiguan (PC6), Zusali (ST 36), Shanjuxu (ST37), Xiajuxu (ST39), Taichong (LR3) and Taibai(SP3) on both hands and legs. Acupuncture included Hegu (LI 4) and Neiguan (PC6), Zusali (ST 36) and Taichong (LR3) with electrical stimulation were conducted. The frequency of electrical stimulation was 2 Hz and the intensities of the stimulation was below 9.8 mA for 15 minutes.After 15 minutes treatment, acupuncture were removed and after 15 minutes the investigators stated to evaluate.

Other: electroacupuncture

sham electroacupuncture

SHAM COMPARATOR

Participants were randomized divided into experimental and control groups. The Vaccaria Seeds (scientific name:Vaccaria segetalis) will be applied in control group. Vaccaria Seed is a spherical, smooth and hard seed, which is commonly used on ear acupuncture point. In control group, Vaccaria Seeds will be secured on the acupuncture point the same as experimental group, and coverd by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), which is actually not turned on. The intervention will last for 15 minutes.After 15 minutes treatment, acupuncture were removed and after 15 minutes the investigators stated to evaluate.

Other: electroacupuncture

Interventions

acupuncture needle with TENS device

electroacupuncturesham electroacupuncture

Eligibility Criteria

Age20 Years - 90 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Patients 20-90 years old,who accepted to enter this trial
  • The patients diagnosed with intestinal obstruction or ileus who complain about nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, abdominal distension or constipation.
  • ICD-10 is R101-R1012

You may not qualify if:

  • Does not meet the above conditions

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Changhua Christian Hospital

Changhua, Changhua County, 500, Taiwan

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Chang YY, Chiu CW, Chen CY, Chang CF, Lee TC, Lo LC, Lee CY, Chang K, Chen PW, Hsieh CJ, Chang YJ, Huang SY. Efficacy of electroacupuncture on acute abdomen emergency care: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2020 Feb 24;21(1):224. doi: 10.1186/s13063-020-4071-3.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Abdominal Pain

Interventions

Electroacupuncture

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

PainNeurologic ManifestationsSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and SymptomsSigns and Symptoms, Digestive

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Combined Modality TherapyTherapeuticsAcupuncture TherapyComplementary TherapiesElectric Stimulation TherapyPhysical Therapy ModalitiesRehabilitationTranscutaneous Electric Nerve StimulationAnalgesiaAnesthesia and AnalgesiaAnesthesia

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
DOUBLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Vice director of Chinese Medicine

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

June 13, 2017

First Posted

June 27, 2017

Study Start

April 17, 2017

Primary Completion

April 16, 2018

Study Completion

April 16, 2018

Last Updated

February 18, 2019

Record last verified: 2019-02

Locations