Details for the study
Brief Title
Efficacy of Acupuncture for Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome
Official Title
Efficacy of Acupuncture for Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome: Study Protocol for a Randomized, Placebo-controlled Trial
Brief Summary
Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) affects many adult men worldwide.<br /> So far, available therapies offer little or no proven benefit to CP/CPPS. The investigators<br /> design and implement this study is to assess efficacy of acupuncture therapy performed in the<br /> CP/CPPS .
Detailed Description
This study is a multi-center, placebo-controlled, randomized trial comparing acupuncture and
placebo needle among patients with CP/CPPS, which will be conducted in Guang'anmen Hospital
of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences and Yantai Chinese Medicine Hospital from
November 2015 to May 2017. 68 patients will be recruited in total through the advertisements
spreading by newspaper, television and internet. After participants have completed a baseline
evaluation and meet the selection criteria, one professional statistician uninvolved with
treatment and data collection will assigns the participants by using a computer generated,
blocked random allocation sequence randomly and acupuncturist will be blinded to the process
of randomized assignment.Treatment group will use acupuncture and control group will use
placebo needle, for treatment, Zhongliao (BL 33), Shenshu (BL 23), Guiyang (BL 35),
Sanyinjiao (SP 6) acupuncture points will be used, the treatment sessions are 24 weeks after
baseline, 3 times a week and each time the patients will accept a 30 minutes treatment, to
control group, participants will receive placebo needle treatment at the same acupuncture
points and the duration and frequency of sessions are same to the real acupuncture group. The
primary outcome measure of this study is the decreasing in (National Institutes of Health
Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index) NIH-CPSI total score from baseline to week 8, and
secondary outcomes include NIH-CPSI sub scales at week, (International Prostate Symptom
Score) IPSS total score, Global response assessment, expectation degree and satisfaction
degree. The first three secondary outcomes will be measured at 4,8,20 and 32 weeks,
expectation degree will be measured at baseline, and the satisfaction degree will be measure
at 8, 20, 32 weeks.
Treatments and/or Procedures
Placebo needle
Placebo needle is a type of control without skin penetration based on the application of placebo needles with blunt needle tips.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is one of the oldest standardized neuromodulatory therapies. The method of acupuncture treatment involves the insertion of needles in acupuncture points according to a system of channels and meridians. The needles are stimulated by manual manipulation, electrical stimulation or heat. The general theory of acupuncture is based on the premise that there are patterns of energy flow through the body that are essential for health. Disruptions of this flow are believed to be responsible for disease. Acupuncture may correct imbalances of flow at identifiable points close to the skin.
Outcome Measures
Outcome measures are the tests that investigators perform to prove whether or not a treatment being tested in a clinical trial is having any effect.
Secondary
expectations degree
The expectations that acupuncture might help participants CP/CPPS at baseline. This scale includes two brief questions to investigate whether patients believe acupuncture treatment and if acupuncture may help CP/CPPS. The investigators designed this scale and the investigators want to explore the impact of variable that are potentially associated with placebo effects, namely will participants' expectations be treatment effect modifier?
Secondary
Degree of satisfaction
The investigators designed this scale, which include 5 grades answer from 0 to 4, means "not at all" "a little" "Quite satisfied" "satisfaction" "very satisfaction"and the investigators want to use this to test blinding of participants.
Study Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
1. History of pain perceived in the region of the prostate and absence of other lower
urinary tract pathology for a minimum of 3 out of the past 6 months. In addition,
associated lower urinary tract symptoms, sexual function, psychological factors should
be addressed.
2. Age 18 to 50 years
3. NIH Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) total score≥ 15 (scale 0-43, and 0
means no symptom).
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Other urologic disease (for example, acute prostatitis, bacterial prostatitis, benign
prostatic hyperplasia, prostate cancer, urinary tuberculosis, urinary tract infection)
2. Serious or acute diseases with heart, liver, kidney and blood system.
3. Patients who had received acupuncture or medication (including alpha-blockers or pain
killers) treatment in the week prior to the baseline assessment
4. Patients without telephone number who cannot be connected during the follow-up