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Chinese Medicine
Published in: Chinese Medicine 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research

Self-administered acupressure for treating adult psychiatric patients with constipation: a randomized controlled trial

Authors: Wai Kit Wong, Wai Tong Chien, Wai Ming Lee

Published in: Chinese Medicine | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

Constipation has a high prevalence rate (>30 %) in psychiatric patients with psychotropic drugs. Common pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for constipation might have longer-term negative and adverse effects that would outweigh their short-term efficacy in symptom reduction. This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effect of self-administered acupressure for the management of constipation, in hospitalized psychiatric patients.

Methods

Seventy-eight patients were recruited in matched pairs in terms of gender, age and laxative use from five acute psychiatric wards in Hong Kong. Each of these matched pairs of patients was randomly assigned to either a self-administered acupressure (n = 39) or a sham group (n = 39), using computer-generated random numbers. After baseline measurement, the intervention and sham group received the same training in self-administered acupressure and supervised practice once per day for 10 days, except light pressure on non-acupoints was taught to the sham group. The acupoints chosen for acupressure included Zhongwan (RN12), right and left Tianshu (ST25), right and left Quchi (LI11). Participants’ symptoms and quality of life regarding constipation were measured at baseline and immediately and 2 weeks after completion of the interventions with constipation assessment scale and patient assessment of constipation quality of life questionnaire, respectively.

Results

After 2 weeks follow-up, participants who had received self-administered acupressure indicated significantly greater improvements in both symptom severity (P = 0.0003) and quality of life (P = 0.0004) when compared with the sham group.

Conclusion

The psychiatric patients with constipation who practiced self-administered acupressure for 10 days improved their symptom severity and perceived quality of life immediately and 2 weeks after completion of the intervention in comparison with the sham group.
Trial registration: The trial was registered with the ClinicalTrials.gov (Reg. No: NCT02187640)
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Metadata
Title
Self-administered acupressure for treating adult psychiatric patients with constipation: a randomized controlled trial
Authors
Wai Kit Wong
Wai Tong Chien
Wai Ming Lee
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Chinese Medicine / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1749-8546
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13020-015-0064-7

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