Effect of home-based acupressure on constipation in people with spinal cord injury: A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial with a mixed-method approach
IF 1.9 4区 医学Q3 INTEGRATIVE & COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE
Yan Li , Jiaying Li , Mengqi Li , Yuen Shan Ho , Tsz Ching Sun , Shanshan Wang , Wai Kit Wong , Shiping Zhang , Rick Kwan , Arnold YL Wong , Wing Fai Yeung
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction
People with spinal cord injuries often experience constipation. Common surgical and conservative treatments for constipation may have long-term adverse events that outweigh their benefits in relieving symptoms temporarily. This proposed study aims to investigate the effects of acupressure on constipation, quality of life, psychosocial well-being, and bowel habits in a community-based spinal cord injury population.
Methods
This two-parallel-group, open-label controlled trial will randomly assign 78 eligible participants to the intervention or control groups. After receiving defecation education, the intervention group will perform 10-days of self-operated or caregiver-assisted acupressure manually, while the control group will conduct a manual light touch on the abdomen. The study will assess participants' constipation severity as the primary outcome, along with secondary outcomes including quality of life, psychosocial well-being, bowel habits, and participants’ perceptions of acupressure. Participants' perceptions of acupressure will be assessed through semi-structured focus group interviews after intervention. Other measurements will be taken at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at a 1-month follow-up. The generalized estimating equations and content analysis will be employed to analyze the intervention effect and interview data, respectively.
Discussion
This study will be the first to evaluate the effect of applying acupressure in people with spinal cord injuries to improve their constipation. The intervention may offer an alternate, non-invasive therapy option for individuals with spinal cord injuries who live in the community.
Trial registration
This study is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT05558657. Register date: September 28, 2022.
期刊介绍:
The European Journal of Integrative Medicine (EuJIM) considers manuscripts from a wide range of complementary and integrative health care disciplines, with a particular focus on whole systems approaches, public health, self management and traditional medical systems. The journal strives to connect conventional medicine and evidence based complementary medicine. We encourage submissions reporting research with relevance for integrative clinical practice and interprofessional education.
EuJIM aims to be of interest to both conventional and integrative audiences, including healthcare practitioners, researchers, health care organisations, educationalists, and all those who seek objective and critical information on integrative medicine. To achieve this aim EuJIM provides an innovative international and interdisciplinary platform linking researchers and clinicians.
The journal focuses primarily on original research articles including systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, other clinical studies, qualitative, observational and epidemiological studies. In addition we welcome short reviews, opinion articles and contributions relating to health services and policy, health economics and psychology.