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The Efficacy of Auricular Acupressure on Improving Constipation Among Residents in Community Rehabilitation Center

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Schizophrenia
Constipation
Interventions
Other: Auricular acupressure
Other: health education
Registration Number
NCT05517460
Lead Sponsor
Taipei Medical University
Brief Summary

The purpose of the study is to examine the effect of auricular acupressure on improvement of constipation and heart rate variability among residents with schizophrenia in community rehabilitation Center.The hypothesis of this study is that residents with schizophrenia in Community Rehabilitation Center receiving auricular acupressure can improve the symptoms of constipation and heart rate variability.By identifying the effectiveness of auricular acupressure can reduce the occurrence of constipation; suitable care can be suggested to improve gastrointestinal health in residents of Schizophrenia in community rehabilitation center.

Detailed Description

Due to the use of psychiatric medication and the impairment of cognition lead to poor lifestyle which is result in constipation among the residents of community rehabilitation center.In addition, the residents affected by psychosis and poor cognition are hard to pay attention and implement on the non-pharmacological interventions completely with complicated process.Therefore, contriving a simple intervention, which may improve constipation and constipation-related symptoms. The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of applying auricular acupressure for relieving the constipation symptoms of residents of Schizophrenia in community rehabilitation center. A cross-over study design is used for this study. The eligible participants were random assign to experimental group I or experimental group II. Experimental group I received 8 weeks of auricular acupressure then 8 weeks of routine health care of constipation. Experimental group II received same interventions in reverse order (8 weeks of routine health care of constipation then 8 weeks of auricular acupressure).In both groups, any interventions were stopped for two month as residual effect wash-out period after 8 weeks intervention. Outcome measures include demographic variables, general health status and defecation condition. Subjective defecation condition is related to self-perceived constipation measured by the Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms scale. Objective defecation condition includes frequency of defecation, the grade of Bristol Stool Scale and heart rate variability. Mean, standard deviation, frequency, percentage, t-test and chi-square test will be used to analyze the data. In addition, generalized estimating equations will be used to examine the effect of auricular acupressure on improving constipation. By identifying the effectiveness of auricular acupressure can reduce the occurrence of constipation; suitable care can be suggested to improve gastrointestinal health in residents of Schizophrenia in community rehabilitation center.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
23
Inclusion Criteria
  • Living in community rehabilitation center for at least six months and above.

  • Community rehabilitation center residents aged 40 and over.

  • Clinical diagnosis of Schizophrenia.

  • Having constipation-related symptoms: meet at least one of the following conditions:

    1. Chief complaint of discomfort of defecation such as difficulty in defecation, hard stool, straining during defecation, feeling of incomplete defecation, feeling of obstructed defecation, defecation frequency less than three times a week.
    2. Objective symptoms: Type 1 or 2 of Bristol Stool Form assessment.
    3. Long-term use(1 month and above) of laxatives such as MgO态Sennoside etc ., or need to use an enema to defecate.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Incapable of complying with the direction and responding to questionnaires.
  • Having wound or local skin lesion on acupressure point.
  • Having organic constipation caused by abdominal operation in the past.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
experimental group II(usual care and auricular acupressure)Auricular acupressureExperimental group II receives 8 weeks of routine health care of constipation first, then interventions are stopped for two month as residual effect wash-out period. And after that Experimental group II receives 8 weeks of auricular acupressure .
experimental group I(auricular acupressure and usual care)health educationExperimental group I receives 8 weeks of auricular acupressure first, then interventions are stopped for two month as residual effect wash-out period. And after that Experimental group I receives 8 weeks of routine health care of constipation.
experimental group II(usual care and auricular acupressure)health educationExperimental group II receives 8 weeks of routine health care of constipation first, then interventions are stopped for two month as residual effect wash-out period. And after that Experimental group II receives 8 weeks of auricular acupressure .
experimental group I(auricular acupressure and usual care)Auricular acupressureExperimental group I receives 8 weeks of auricular acupressure first, then interventions are stopped for two month as residual effect wash-out period. And after that Experimental group I receives 8 weeks of routine health care of constipation.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms questionnaireat eight weeks after intervention

Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms

Bristol Stool Scaleat eight weeks after intervention

frequency of defecation, range of 1-7 and low score indicate constipation

heart rate variability.at eight weeks after intervention

heart rate variability.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Taipei Medical University

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Taipei county, Taiwan

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