Outcome
Type |
Measure |
Description |
Time frame |
Safety issue |
Primary |
Baseline mean of irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptom Severity Score |
It is five item questionnaire measuring frequency and intensity of abdominal pain, the severity of abdominal distension, dissatisfaction with bowel habits, and the interference of IBS with daily life. Subjects respond to each question on a 100-point visual analogue scale. The total score ranges from 0 to 500. Subjects can be categorized as having mild (75-175), moderate (175-300), or severe (>300) disease |
Immediately before assigning the participants to the study groups |
|
Primary |
Change from the baseline irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptom Severity Score at 2 weeks |
t is five item questionnaire measuring frequency and intensity of abdominal pain, the severity of abdominal distension, dissatisfaction with bowel habits, and the interference of IBS with daily life. Subjects respond to each question on a 100-point visual analogue scale. The total score ranges from 0 to 500. Subjects can be categorized as having mild (75-175), moderate (175-300), or severe (>300) disease |
after 2 weeks from the baseline |
|
Primary |
Change from the baseline irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptom Severity Score at 4 weeks |
t is five item questionnaire measuring frequency and intensity of abdominal pain, the severity of abdominal distension, dissatisfaction with bowel habits, and the interference of IBS with daily life. Subjects respond to each question on a 100-point visual analogue scale. The total score ranges from 0 to 500. Subjects can be categorized as having mild (75-175), moderate (175-300), or severe (>300) disease |
after 4 weeks from the baseline |
|
Primary |
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Adequate Relief question |
It is a dichotomous single item that asks participants "Over the past week have you had adequate relief of your irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms?" . A responder was defined as a patient who answered this question affirmatively. |
At the baseline |
|
Primary |
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Adequate Relief question |
It is a dichotomous single item that asks participants "Over the past week have you had adequate relief of your irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms?" . A responder was defined as a patient who answered this question affirmatively. |
After 2 weeks from the baseline |
|
Primary |
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Adequate Relief question |
It is a dichotomous single item that asks participants "Over the past week have you had adequate relief of your irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms?" . A responder was defined as a patient who answered this question affirmatively. |
After 4 weeks from the baseline |
|
Primary |
Mean stool frequency after 2 weeks |
Defined by the bi-weekly change of frequency of defecation,patient will report the number of defecation per day to calculate it. |
After 2 weeks from the patient endorsement |
|
Primary |
Mean change of stool frequency after 4 weeks |
Defined by the bi-weekly change of frequency of defecation,patient will report the number of defecation per day to calculate it. |
After 4 weeks from the patient endorsement |
|
Primary |
Stool consistency |
Defined by the Bristol Stool Form Scale, It is an ordinal scale of stool types ranging from the hardest (Type 1) to the softest (Type 7). Types 1 and2 are considered to be abnormally hard stools while Types 6 and 7 are considered abnormally loose/liquid stools. Type 3, 4 and 5 are considered to be the most normal stool type |
at the baseline |
|
Primary |
Change in the frequency of stool consistency at 2 weeks from the baseline |
defined by the Bristol Stool Form Scale |
after 2 weeks from baseline |
|
Primary |
Change in the frequency of stool consistency at 4 weeks from the baseline |
Defined by the Bristol Stool Form Scale, It is an ordinal scale of stool types ranging from the hardest (Type 1) to the softest (Type 7). Types 1 and2 are considered to be abnormally hard stools while Types 6 and 7 are considered abnormally loose/liquid stools. Type 3, 4 and 5 are considered to be the most normal stool type |
after 4 weeks |
|
Secondary |
Demographic and clinical data |
A questionnaire will be developed to collect data about participants' age, gender, body mass index, physical activity status, diet, smoking status, medication used. |
before assignment of the participants to the study groups |
|
Secondary |
the baseline mean of psychological distress measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale |
the scale contains 14 items, seven statements on each sub-scale which assess symptoms experienced during the past week on four-point rating scale (0 to 3); a higher score depicts a worse condition. For each sub-scale the maximum score is 21. A score of =11 is considered a clinically significant disorder, whereas a score between 8 and 10 suggests a mild disorder |
at the baseline |
|
Secondary |
Change from the baseline mean of the psychological distress measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale at 4 weeks |
the scale contains 14 items, seven statements on each sub-scale which assess symptoms experienced during the past week on four-point rating scale (0 to 3); a higher score depicts a worse condition. For each sub-scale the maximum score is 21. A score of =11 is considered a clinically significant disorder, whereas a score between 8 and 10 suggests a mild disorder |
after 4 weeks from the baseline |
|
Secondary |
Baseline mean of the quality of Life |
it will be measured by the irritable bowel syndrome quality of Life questionnaire. It consists of 34 items that assess the degree to which irritable bowel syndrome disturbed quality of life for a subject over the past 30 days through eight sub-scales. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale ranging from 1 to 5 with higher values indicating a lower quality of life. |
at the baseline |
|
Secondary |
Change from the baseline mean of the quality of life at 4 weeks |
it will be measured by the irritable bowel syndrome quality of Life questionnaire. It consists of 34 items that assess the degree to which irritable bowel syndrome disturbed quality of life for a subject over the past 30 days through eight sub-scales. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale ranging from 1 to 5 with higher values indicating a lower quality of life. |
Four weeks after the baseline assessment |
|
Secondary |
Related adverse Events |
An unfavorable change in the health of a participants that happens during a clinical study or within a week after the study has ended. This change may or may not be caused by the acupressure. |
from the patients endorsement till one week after study completion |
|
Secondary |
Adherence to the to active and sham self-administered acupressure of the study. |
The adherence will be calculated as percentage of planned sessions of acupressure, and adherence rate above 80% was set as a minimum requirement to be regarded as acceptable |
throughout study completion, an average of 4 months |
|
Secondary |
use of rescue medicine |
participants will be asked to report the use of rescue medicine for diarrhea or gastrointestinal symptoms |
throughout study completion, an average of 4 months |
|