title: Electroacupuncture for pressure ulcer: a study protocol for a randomized controlled pilot trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pressure ulcers are one of the most common health complaints, which often take months or years to heal, and affect patients' morbidity and quality of life. Medical options for pressure ulcers are limited. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been employed to relieve the symptoms for patients with pressure ulcers, but there is limited clinical evidence for its effectiveness.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study consists of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with two parallel arms: a control group and an EA group. Both groups will receive standard wound care (including changing position, using mattresses and cushions, and a good diet) of five sessions per week for a total of 40 sessions during the 8-week treatment period. In addition, the EA group will receive the EA intervention. The following outcome measurements will be used in examination of participants: wound surface area (WSA), visual analogue scale (VAS), and the proportion of ulcers healed within trial period (PUHTP). All the outcomes will be evaluated at the start of the study, at the end of the fourth week, at 8 weeks after randomization, and 1 month after treatment cessation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of EA for the treatment of patients with pressure ulcers.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Chinese Clinical Trial Register: ChiCTR-TRC-11001693.
authors.forename: Qin-hong
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jin-huan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China. sunzhongren2011@163.com.
authors.forename: Zhong-ren
authors.initials: ZR
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D012107:Research Design; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing