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

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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
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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.

Official Title
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Taiwan Taichung Veterans General Hospital

Conditions
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Constipation

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: Acupressure
* Procedure: routine nursing and fake acupressure


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Age ≥ 20 years old Established diagnosis of stroke (ischemic, hemorrhagic acute phase) NIHSS 1-20 points Undiagnosed within three months before admission With intestinal disease and no rectal resection meeting the diagnostic criteria for functional constipation (Rome IV). Exclusion Criteria: Abdominal surgery or abdominal radiotherapy within three months Abdominal cancer including liver, large intestine, lymph, and pelvic cavity, etc., Massive ascites There are implants in the abdominal cavity, such as V-P Shunt, L-P Shunt, CAPD, etc.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 20 Years
Maximum Age: 80 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional 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.
Masking: Quadruple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: routine nursing and fake acupressure<br>control groups: receiving routine nursing and fake acupressure to improve constipation for 7 days during hospitalization. | Procedure: routine nursing and fake acupressure<br>* control groups: receiving routine nursing and fake acupressure to improve constipation for 7 days during hospitalization.<br>|
| Experimental: acupressure<br>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. | Procedure: Acupressure<br>* 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.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The constipation assessment scale scores | Constipation 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. | Assessment from the first day to the seventh day after treatment | 
| The Bristol Stool Form Scale | bach'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 | Assessment from the first day to the seventh day after treatment | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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acupressure, constipation,