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Clinical Trials/NCT05517460
NCT05517460
Completed
Not Applicable

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

Taipei Medical University1 site in 1 country23 target enrollmentSeptember 6, 2022

Overview

Phase
Not Applicable
Intervention
Not specified
Conditions
Schizophrenia
Sponsor
Taipei Medical University
Enrollment
23
Locations
1
Primary Endpoint
Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms questionnaire
Status
Completed
Last Updated
3 years ago

Overview

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.

Registry
clinicaltrials.gov
Start Date
September 6, 2022
End Date
March 15, 2023
Last Updated
3 years ago
Study Type
Interventional
Study Design
Crossover
Sex
All

Investigators

Responsible Party
Principal Investigator
Principal Investigator

Huang, Hui-Chuan

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

Taipei Medical University

Eligibility Criteria

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:
  • 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.
  • Objective symptoms: Type 1 or 2 of Bristol Stool Form assessment.
  • Long-term use(1 month and above) of laxatives such as MgO、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.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms questionnaire

Time Frame: at eight weeks after intervention

Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms

Bristol Stool Scale

Time Frame: at eight weeks after intervention

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

heart rate variability.

Time Frame: at eight weeks after intervention

heart rate variability.

Study Sites (1)

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