A pilot study of traditional acupuncture as an additional treatment for irritable bowel syndrome-diarrhoea

Not Applicable

• Conditions: irritable bowel syndrome; Alternative and Complementary Medicine - Other alternative and complementary medicine; Oral and Gastrointestinal - Other diseases of the mouth, teeth, oesophagus, digestive system including liver and colon

• Registration Number: ACTRN12622000073707
• Lead Sponsor: ew Zealand College of Chinese Medicine

Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Results First Posted: 1900-01-01
• Study Start: 2022-01-21
• Last Update Posted: 31 January 2022

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: ot yet recruiting
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 40

Inclusion Criteria

Patients who are newly diagnosed with IBS-D by New Zealand registered western medical professionals, according to ROME IV criteria will be potentially eligible to participate in the study.
ROME IV criteria: Patients with recurrent abdominal pain at least one day per week in the last three months on average, associated with at least 2 of the criteria below. The criteria are fulfilled with symptoms onset six months before diagnosis:
1 Related to defecation, either increasing or improving pain
2 Associated with a change in stool frequency
3 Associated with a change in stool form (appearance)

The Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) is used to record stool consistency. The IBS-D subtype is defined as follows: more than 25% of bowel movements using the BSFS are type 6 or 7, and less than 25% of bowel movements are type 1 or 2 (European Medicines Agency, 2015; FDA, 2012). IBS-D patients can be diagnosed in a clinical situation when a patient reports that abnormal bowel movements are usually diarrhoea (BSFS type 6 or 7) (Moayyedi et al., 2017).

Exclusion Criteria

Patients who meet the criteria below will be excluded from the study:
1 Age younger than 18 or older than 50
2 Individuals who cannot make independent decisions and consent
3 Previously diagnosed with IBS and having received standard care
4 Currently taking the following medications more than three days a week: antibiotics, narcotics, cholestyramine, colchicine, iron supplements, antispasmodics, benzodiazepines, antidepressants
5 Current diagnosis of haemophilia, hepatitis, HIV or cancer
6 Having had major gastrointestinal, and/or gynaecological, and/or urological surgery within the past six months
7 Currently receiving complementary therapies such as acupuncture, herbs, massage and behavioural therapies
8 Having bleeding disorders
9 Regularly taking anticoagulants
10 Having skin conditions
11 Having an immunocompromised disease or taking immunosuppressant
12 Having a history of convulsions
13 Pregnancy
14 A history of psychosis or substance abuse
15 Individuals with plans for travel, lifestyle change, or other activity that would preclude attending the planned study sessions

Study & Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design: Not specified