title: A pilot study on the use of acupuncture or pelvic floor muscle training for mixed urinary incontinence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the feasibility and acceptability of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) acupuncture and pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) in reducing symptoms and bothersomeness in women with mixed urinary incontinence (MUI); and to estimate the sample size for a full scale trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four women with MUI were randomly assigned to either 12 sessions of TCM acupuncture, 12 sessions of PFMT, or to a waiting list control group. Outcome measures included an assessment of interest to participate in the trial, identification of successful recruitment strategies, the appropriateness of eligibility criteria, and compliance with treatment. Clinical outcomes were assessed at baseline and 12 weeks, and included the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence-Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF), expectations of treatment effect, and adverse events.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recruitment was feasible and randomisation worked adequately by means of SurveyMonkey. SurveyMonkey does not permit stratification by ICIQ-UI SF baseline score. Fourteen of 22 women found the treatment options acceptable. The dropout rate was high, especially in the control group (6/12). Outcome forms were completed by 20 of 34 women. The median (IQR) changes of the ICIQ-UI SF scores in the acupuncture, physiotherapy, and waiting list group were 5.5 (2.3 to 6.8), 1.0 (-3.0 to 4.5), and 1.5 (-1.5 to 3.0), respectively, suggesting the need for a full scale trial.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with MUI were willing to participate in this study. There is a need for adjusting eligibility criteria. A sample size of 129 women, 43 in three arms, is required. No major adverse events occurred.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Health Sciences, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Solberg
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Science, Department of Community Medicine, The National Research Center in Complementary and Alternative Medicine, NAFKAM, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway Norwegian School of Health Sciences, Kristiania University College Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Terje
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alræk
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Department of General Practice, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Ibrahimu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mdala
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Department of General Practice, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Atle
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klovning
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: ACUPUNCTURE; PHYSIOTHERAPY; UROLOGY