This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of either electroacupuncture alone or combined with warm needling in reducing tinnitus loudness and improving the impairment caused by tinnitus in Hong Kong.
This study is a prospective, multicenter, assessor-blind, three-arm, parallel-group, randomized waitlist-controlled trial. A total of 90 eligible subjects with tinnitus will be recruited and randomly assigned to electroacupuncture (EA), electroacupuncture combined with warm needling (EAWN) or waitlist control with n=30 subjects each group. The entire study period will last for 10 weeks, including a 5-week intervention period and a 5-week follow-up period. Outcome measures include the loudness of tinnitus and the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory. Any adverse event will be observed and recorded for safety assessment. The study findings will provide evidence to determine the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture with or without combined warm needling for tinnitus in Hong Kong.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
90
Electroacupuncture (EA) treatment following standardized procedures will be conducted for 2 sessions per week for 5 consecutive weeks. Each session of treatment will last for 25 min. The acupoints that will be stimulated are Tinggong (SI19) and Yifeng (TE17) of the affected side, Baihui (GV20) and Yintang (GV24+), bilateral posterior temporal line (MS11), and Zhongzhu (TE3) and Zusanli (ST36) of the affected side. For electroacupuncture (EA), electrical stimulation will be applied using an EA apparatus, with pairs of electrodes connecting the needles at ipsilateral SI19 and TE17, GV20 and GV24+, and bilateral MS11.
Electroacupuncture combined with warm needling (EAWN) treatment following standardized procedures will be conducted for 2 sessions per week for 5 consecutive weeks. Each session of treatment will last for 25 min. The acupoints that will be stimulated are SI19 and TE17 (affected side), GV20 and GV24+, bilateral MS11, and TE3 and ST36 (affected side). For electroacupuncture (EA), electrical stimulation will be applied using an EA apparatus, with pairs of electrodes connecting the needles at ipsilateral SI19 and TE17, GV20 and GV24+, and bilateral MS11. For warm needling (WN), two moxa sticks will be ignited and attached one by one to the needle handle of each acupoint of SI19 and TE17.
No treatment will be provided during the 10-week waiting period after baseline assessment.
Pok Oi Hospital-Chinese Medicine Polyclinic (Tin Shui Wai)
Hong Kong, China
Pok Oi Hospital-The Chinese University of Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Clinic cum Training ad Research Centre (Yuen Long District)
Hong Kong, China
Pok Oi Hospital-The Chinese University of Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Clinic cum Training and Research Centre (Shatin District)
Hong Kong, China
Change in Tinnitus Loudness
A 0-10 numeric rating scale (NRS) will be used for rating loudness of tinnitus. Higher score indicates greater tinnitus loudness and its influence.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 5, and Week 10
Change in Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI)
THI is a 25-item self-report measure to determine tinnitus handicap severity with good reliability and validity. The THI total score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher score denoting higher level of severity.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 5, and Week 10
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