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Effects of Imagery Therapy vs Progressive Muscle Relaxation Therapy on Patients With Functional Abdominal Bloating

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
Interventions
Behavioral: Guided Imagery
Other: Educational Audiobook
Behavioral: Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Registration Number
NCT04789967
Lead Sponsor
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Brief Summary

65% of the general population reported experiencing moderate to severe bloating symptoms. Bloating could be disturbing to patients and frustrating to the physicians as an effective treatment is still lacking. Guided Imagery (GI) involves the structured visualisation of mental images with somatic sensory; whereas Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) focuses on tightening and relaxing the body's specific muscle groups. The development and validation of GI or PMR interventions to treat patients with functional abdominal bloating are relatively novel.

Detailed Description

The baseline variables of the patient would be obtained at the outpatient Gastrointestinal Medical clinic. A thorough general clinical interview that encompasses medical and psychological history, discussion of the nature and severity of the current symptoms, and review of past treatments and conclusions of any medical evaluation and tests. This is to make sure that the patients have been comprehensively evaluated medically and to rule out other causes of abdominal bloating before reaching a firm diagnosis of functional abdominal bloating as suggested in ROME IV Criteria. Questionnaires will be given out and patients were asked to fill it up on the spot. Electrical activity and abdominal circumference would be measured at an enclosed space with appropriate privacy and accompanied by a chaperone.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
96
Inclusion Criteria
  • Participants with abdominal bloating as determined using the Malay version Rome III criteria which was validated and translated by past researchers (Lee et al, 2012) and/or patients who were suggested by clinicians.
  • Participants must be 18 years and above, and of either gender.
  • Participants are able to read, write, or understand the Malay language.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Patients with abdominal bloating due to organic disorder
  • Patients with recent abdominal surgeries (within 3 months) or previous major abdominal surgeries
  • Patients with major neurological and psychological disorders including stroke, schizophrenia, major depression.
  • Patients with medical history which may be the red flag for other FGIDs and organic disorders .
  • Patients who are on psychotropic medications or psychotherapy which may confound outcome of imagery of sham intervention.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
FACTORIAL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Guided Imagery (GI)Guided ImageryA 8 minute audio that focuses on evoking mental images in reducing the abdominal bloating sensation in patients
AudiobookEducational AudiobookA 8 minute audio that focuses on providing educational information regarding functional gastrointestinal disorders and related knowledge.
Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)Progressive Muscle RelaxationA 8 minute audio that focuses on contracting certain muscle groups and relaxing it progressively in reducing the abdominal bloating sensation in patients
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Symptoms severity1 month

Measured using the Malay version of Bloating Severity Questionnaire (BSQ-M). It consists of two components: five-item Sev24 and seven-item SevGen. The responses were in a multiple-choice answer format on different degrees of effect towards individuals on the basis of intensity, frequency and severity (less severe to more severe; range 1 to 4,5,6,7 or 8 varied by items). Higher scores in BSQ indicate worse severity.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Abdominal circumference1 month

Using a non-stretch metric tape

Quality of life for patients with abdominal bloating1 month

Measured using the Malay version of Bloating Quality of Life (BLQoL-M) Questionnaires. The responses for BLQoL were in a 7-point Likert scale on different degrees of impact towards individual ranging from 1 = "never/not related to me" to 7 = "always". Higher scores in BLQoL indicate higher impact towards QoL.

Health seeking Intention1 month

Measured using Health Seeking Intention for Abdominal Bloating Scale. It is a 5 point Likert scale that consists of 1 domain and 1 item. 1 indicates "strongly diagree" while 5 indicates "strongly agree"

Health belief1 month

Measured using the Malay-Language Health of Bloating (HB-Bloat) Scale. The questionnaire consists of 12 items and 3 domains: attitude (3 items), subjective norm (5 items), perceived control towards self-management (4 items). All responses were measured on a five-point Likert scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).

Health promoting behavior1 month

Measured using Health Promoting Behavior Scale of Abdominal Bloating. The questionnaire consists of 4 domains and 15 items. The questionnaire is a 5 point Likert scales, whereby 1 is considered strongly disagree and 5 is considered strongly agree.

Anxiety1 month

Measured using the Malay version of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). It comprises of 14 items, seven of which is related to anxiety symptoms. Each item is coded from 0 to 3. The scores for anxiety and depression can therefore vary from 0 to 21, depending on the presence and severity of the symptoms. A score between 0 and 7 does not indicate the presence of the symptoms of anxiety; a score between 8 and 10 indicates the presence of a moderate symptom; a score of 11 and above indicates a significant number of symptoms of anxiety corresponding to confirmed cases.

Depression1 month

Measured using the Malay version of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). It comprises of 14 items, seven of which is related to anxiety symptoms. Each item is coded from 0 to 3. The scores for anxiety and depression can therefore vary from 0 to 21, depending on the presence and severity of the symptoms. A score between 0 and 7 does not indicate the presence of the symptoms of anxiety; a score between 8 and 10 indicates the presence of a moderate symptom; a score of 11 and above indicates a significant number of symptoms of anxiety corresponding to confirmed cases.

Electrical activity1 month

Measured using the Megawin ME6000 Electromyograph

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Universiti Sains Malaysia

🇲🇾

Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia

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