Electro-acupuncture (EA) and chronic pelvic pain (CPP)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The BMEA Study: The impact of meridian balanced method (BM) electro-acupuncture (EA) treatment on women with chronic pelvic pain (CPP): A three-arm randomized controlled pilot study.
IRAS ID
154800
Contact name
Ooi Thye Chong
Contact email
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
n/a, n/a
Research summary
Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) affects over 1 million women in the United Kingdom. The annual healthcare costs are estimated at over £150 million. Proven interventions are unsatisfactory, presenting an urgent clinical challenge. Electro-acupuncture (EA) maybe helpful in the management of CPP. Studies on the mechanisms of EA in animals and humans have demonstrated that endogenous opioid peptides in the central nervous system mediate its analgesic effect. A recent individual patient data meta-analysis on acupuncture for four chronic pain conditions found a small statistically significant effect size when compared to sham acupuncture. The effect size was larger and statistically significant when compared to usual care controls. This and other large studies suggest that in addition to endogenous opioids, the patient-provider interaction also plays a role in its analgesic effect. Using a mixed methods approach, we plan to undertake a single centre pilot study to assess the feasibility of a three-armed randomised controlled, parallel group design. Its primary goal is to assess recruitment and retention rates and secondarily to evaluate the impact of the meridian balance method electro-acupuncture (BMEA) treatment and Traditional Chinese Medicine health consult (TCM HC) in the management of CPP. We aim to recruit 30 women with CPP in NHS Lothian, randomise them to meridian BMEA treatment, TCM HC and standard care (SC). Response to the intervention will be monitored by questionnaires at the end of weeks 2, 4, 8 and 12. Focus groups discussion will be conducted at the end of the study.
REC name
South East Scotland REC 02
REC reference
14/SS/0088
Date of REC Opinion
27 Jun 2014
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion