Acupuncture for Urinary Incontinence

Urinary Incontinence Clinical Trial

Official title: Efficacy of Acupuncture in Treating Urinary Incontinence

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

This research study will evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture in decreasing urinary incontinence (involuntary urine loss) in women. The study will involve 12 acupuncture sessions over 6 weeks. We will compare the effectiveness of acupuncture and sham (placebo) acupuncture (a procedure in which the needle feels like it penetrates the skin, but is not actually inserted into the body) on the frequency and volume of involuntary (accidental) urine loss after completing the intervention, and again one month later. Individuals participating in this study will be randomly assigned to receive either the actual or sham acupuncture. Randomization means being assigned by chance, similar to flipping a coin. Study participants will not know which group (actual or sham acupuncture) they were assigned to until one month after completing the 6-weeks of treatment. The sham acupuncture needles look similar to the real acupuncture needles and feel like they penetrate the skin, but do not actually do so. If individuals are assigned to the sham acupuncture group, they will be eligible to receive the actual acupuncture one month after completing the sham acupuncture. All individuals will be followed for 6 months after completing the acupuncture treatments.

Clinical Trial Description

See Brief Summary ;

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Urinary Incontinence

• NCT number: NCT00297427
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: University of Pittsburgh
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• Start date: October 2005
• Completion date: July 2011