title: Magnetic stimulation for stress urinary incontinence: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is currently a lack of randomized, sham-controlled trials that are adequately powered, using validated outcomes, to allow for firm recommendations on the use of magnetic stimulation for stress urinary incontinence. We report a protocol of a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled parallel-group trial to evaluate the efficacy of magnetic stimulation for stress urinary incontinence.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred twenty subjects with stress urinary incontinence will be randomized in a 1:1 allocation to either active or sham magnetic stimulation using computer-generated, permuted blocks of variable sizes. Subjects will receive 2 sessions of magnetic stimulation per week for 8 weeks (16 sessions total). The primary outcome is the improvement in severity of involuntary urine loss based on the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire for Urinary Incontinence Short Form at the end of treatment sessions compared with baseline. Secondary outcomes include cure, stress urinary incontinence-related symptoms (incontinence episode frequency, urine loss in 1-hour pad test, pelvic floor muscle strength) and health-related quality of life (Patient Global Impression of Improvement, International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Quality of Life and EQ-5D). The safety of magnetic stimulation will also be assessed. Besides evaluation of clinical treatment effectiveness, cost-effectiveness analysis using patient-reported outcomes will be performed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This trial is designed to provide pending outcome information on this non-invasive treatment option. We intend to acknowledge the existing flaws in previous clinical trials and determine conclusively whether magnetic stimulation is effective for stress urinary incontinence.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01924728. Date of Registration: 14 August 2013.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. renly_lim@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Renly
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Island Hospital, Penang, Malaysia. liongml@islandhospital.com.
authors.forename: Men Long
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Liong
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Lam Wah Ee Hospital, Penang, Malaysia. leongws@hlwe.com.
authors.forename: Wing Seng
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Leong
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. nurza@usm.my.
authors.forename: Nurzalina Abdul Karim
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. khyuen@usm.my.
authors.forename: Kah Hay
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Yuen
mesh_terms: D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D055909:Magnetic Field Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation; D008296:Malaysia; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012107:Research Design; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000294:innervation*; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D014563:Urodynamics