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The Effect of Acupressure in Improving Constipation Among Inpatients in Neurology Departments

Taiwan Taichung Veterans General Hospital

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05612646
Enrollment
128
Registered
2022-11-10
Start date
2020-09-11
Completion date
2022-10-24
Last updated
2023-05-09

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

Conditions

Constipation

Keywords

acupressure, constipation,

Brief summary

As a form of non-invasive auxiliary care, Traditional Chinese Medicine acupressure can prevent constipation, reduce medication for constipation, save medical costs, and alleviate constipation among inpatients in neurology departments, as well as improve patients' general ease and comfort of defecation, thereby improving their quality of life. It also provides clinical nursing staff with a more effective, safer, and more comfortable auxiliary method of preventing constipation, and can be used as a reference for the nursing of such patients.

Detailed description

Background: Constipation is a common problem among geriatric patients and in neurology departments. However, using stool softeners and enemas yield only temporary effects and may even lead to alternating constipation, diarrhea, and metabolic disorders. Because of its non-invasive nature, Acupressure can be used as adjuvant therapy of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine to prevent constipation among inpatients in neurology departments. It is necessary to verify that Acupressure can be applied to avoid and alleviate patients' constipation, improve their comfort, and improve their quality of life. Objective: To explore the effect of Acupressure in alleviating constipation among inpatients in neurology departments.Method: A randomized controlled two-group pre-test and post-test experiment design were adopted in this study; neurology department inpatients were randomly assigned to either the experimental group, which comprised 64 subjects receiving Acupressure on three acupoints (Tianshu, ST25: Stomach Meridian 25; Zhongwan CV12: Conception Vessel 12; Qihai CV6: Meridian Vessel 6) or the control group which comprised 64 subjects receiving routine nursing and fake Acupressure. The research tools included the Bristol Stool Form and Constipation Assessment Scale.

Interventions

PROCEDUREAcupressure

The patients assigned to the experimental group received acupoint massage designed to improve constipation for 7 days during hospitalization. The selection of acupoints in this study includes Tianshu (double) (Tianshu, ST25: Stomach Meridian 25, the 25th point of the stomach meridian), Zhongwan (single) (Zhongwan CV12: Conception Vessel 12, the 12th point of the Ren meridian) ), Qihai Point (Single) (Qihai CV6: Meridian Vessel 6 Renmai 6th point) 3 points.

PROCEDUREroutine nursing and fake acupressure

control groups: receiving routine nursing and fake acupressure to improve constipation for 7 days during hospitalization.

Sponsors

Taichung Veterans General Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

Use the random number generator of EXCEL to generate the random number assigned by the computer, and put the serial number in the sealed envelope in sequence. After the patients completed the pre-test, the sealed envelopes were opened in sequence, and the patients were randomly assigned to the experimental group and the routine care group. The study used an assessor blinding design, that is, the data collectors were unaware of the patient group assignments until the end of the study

Intervention model description

Assignment A two-group controlled, randomized study, the intervention groups: receiving acupressure on 3 acupoints (Tianshu, ST25: Stomach Meridian 25; Zhongwan CV12: Conception Vessel 12; Qihai CV6: Meridian Vessel 6), control groups: receiving routine nursing and fake acupressure.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
20 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

1. Age ≥ 20 years old 2. Established diagnosis of stroke (ischemic, hemorrhagic acute phase) 3. NIHSS 1-20 points 4. Undiagnosed within three months before admission With intestinal disease and no rectal resection 5. meeting the diagnostic criteria for functional constipation (Rome IV).

Exclusion criteria

1. Abdominal surgery or abdominal radiotherapy within three months 2. Abdominal cancer including liver, large intestine, lymph, and pelvic cavity, etc., 3. Massive ascites 4. There are implants in the abdominal cavity, such as V-P Shunt, L-P Shunt, CAPD, etc.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
The constipation assessment scale scoresAssessment from the first day to the seventh day after treatmentConstipation Assessment Scale (CAS), a total of 8 questions, 0 points: no, 1 point: yes, but not severe, 2 points. Very serious, the higher the score (0-16 points), the more severe the constipation symptoms.
The Bristol Stool Form ScaleAssessment from the first day to the seventh day after treatmentbach's alpha of The Bristol Stool Form Scale. Classification: Type 1: hard balls (difficult to pass through), Type 2: sausage-like, but with uneven surface Type 3: sausage-like, but with cracks on the surface, Type 4: like sausage or snake Surface is smooth, type 5: soft lumps with smooth broken edges (easy to pass), type 6: fluffy lumps with rough edges, mushy stool, type 7: watery, no solid lumps (completely liquid), type 1 Types 3 and 2 indicate constipation; Types 3 and 4 are ideal stool shapes, especially Type 4 is the easiest to defecate; Types 5 to 7 are likely to have diarrhea

Countries

Taiwan

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 10, 2026