Cross Sectional Study of Constipation in Advanced Cancer Patients

Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome Distribution of Advanced Cancer Patients With Constipation

Status

Completed

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Observational

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT01399294

Enrollment

255

Registered

2011-07-21

Start date

2010-05-31

Completion date

2011-02-28

Last updated

2011-07-21

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Constipation, Palliative Care, Traditional Chinese Medicine

Keywords

Palliative Care, Advanced Cancer, Constipation, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Syndrome Distribution

Brief summary

Constipation is a common problem in palliative cancer patients. However, there were insufficient randomized controlled trial (RCT) data to identify the best laxative or combination of laxatives in these patients. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in holistic approach is popular among cancer patients. More than half had received at least one form of TCM therapy according to the survey carried in 2008. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) in compound formulation with nourishing and purging effects simultaneously may be more preferred to relieve constipation by local palliative cancer patients. TCM syndrome differentiated by collecting all symptoms and signs through the classic four diagnostic methods is the foundation for making diagnosis and prescription in TCM practice. The present study is the first local study to evaluate the bowel habits and TCM syndrome of advanced cancer patients with constipation. We hope that the results not only can shed light on patient's own reporting or experience of constipation and the effectiveness of current practice, but also can draw up a CHM formulation for advanced cancer patients with constipation.

Interventions

None listed

Study design

Observational model

CASE_ONLY

Time perspective

CROSS_SECTIONAL

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

* advanced cancer patients * on medication for facilitating bowel movement and/or constipation visual analogue scale \>=2

Exclusion criteria

* unable to communicate * cognitive impaired * put on colostomy bag * clinically diagnosed gastrointestinal obstruction * at end-of-life

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
TCM syndrome distribution	End of recruitment (estimated timeframe: 3 months)	Five TCM syndromes, i.e. Excess Heat, Qi Stagnation, Qi Deficiency, Yang Deficiency and Yin Deficiency, are differentiated by TCM practitioner.

Secondary

Measure	Time frame	Description
bowel habit	End of recruitment (estimated timeframe: 3 months)	1. Patient's own reporting or experience of constipation 2. Effectiveness of current practice in relief of constipation

Countries

China

Outcome results