Stroke and its sequelae are a major indication for acupuncture. The specific aims of this study are to assess the feasibility of pragmatic clinical trial on acupuncture in primary care setting and evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for stroke rehabilitation in Hong Kong.
The study will help to develop ap treatment patterns for stroke rehabilitation of elderly patients in Hong Kong. The specific aims of this study are to assess the feasibility of pragmatic clinical trial on acupuncture in primary care setting and evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for stroke rehabilitation on motor, sensation, speech, swallowing, cognitive, and other neurological functions. This study includs 2-week run-in, 24-week treatment, 12-week follow up and 9 visits at week 0, 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26 and 38. The investigator will recruit totally 500 patients fulfiling the eligibility criteria in four neighbourhood elderly centres of The Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council and Chinese medicine clinics of Hong Kong Baptist University. Acupuncture treatment will be applied to the patients and seven visits will be arranged within the 24-wk treatment period providing medical consultation and recording improvement and any adverse effect.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
500
All acupuncture operations were done by registered Chinese medicine practitioner. Sterile, disposable acupuncture needles (0.25mmin diameter and 40mmin length) were used, which were purchased from HuaTuo acupuncture instrument. Principal points: Neiguan (PC 6) \*, Sanyinjia (SP 6) \*, Weizhong (BL 40) \*, Baihui (GV 20), Shuigou (GV 26) \*, Zusanli (ST 36) \*, Quchi (LI 11) \*, Waiguan (TE 5) \*, Hegu (LI 4) \*, Huantiao (GB 30) \*, Yanglingquan (GB 34)\* (Grading of recommendation: C, level of evidence: IV). Supplementary points: If upper limbs hemiplegia occurs, add Jianliao (TE 14) and Shousanli (LI 10); if lower limbs hemiplegia occurs, add Xuanzhong (GB 39) and Taichong (LR 3); if a deviation of the mouth or tongue occurs, add Dicang (ST 4) and Jiache (ST 6).
Hong Kong
Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
RECRUITINGActivities of daily living (ADL) scores
ADL is commonly utilized to indicate the patient's functioning condition and level of care assistance by the Hospital Authority in Hong Kong.
Time frame: 9 months
Mini-mental state examination (MMSE)
The MMSE test is a standard tool for cognitive assessment in the clinical setting. It is a 10-minute bedside measure of impaired thinking in undeveloped, uneducated, diseased, or very old populations. The summed score of the individual items indicates the current severity of cognitive impairment.
Time frame: 9 months
Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome Score Scale (TCMSSS)
The TCMSSS is based on \<Criteria for diagnosis and curative effect evaluation of stroke\>. Total scores range from 0 to 52, with scores above 40 indicating very severe neurological impairment, scores of 14 to 39 suggesting moderately severe to severe impairment, and scores below 13 indicating mild impairment.
Time frame: 9 months
Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire (CCMQ)
The CCMQ is applied to evaluate body constitution of each patient by score (Balanced Constitution, Qi-deficient Constitution, Yang-deficient Constitution, Yin-deficient Constitution, Phlegm-dampness Constitution, Damp-heat Constitution, Stagnant Blood Constitution, Stagnant Qi Constitution, and Inherited Special Constitution).
Time frame: 9 months
Zhaoxiang Bian, MD.,PH.D
CONTACT
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.