Efficacy of acupuncture for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndromes: study protocol for a randomized, sham acupuncture-controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) affects many adult men worldwide. The currently available therapies offer little or no proven benefit for CP/CPPS. We designed this study to assess the efficacy of acupuncture therapy for the treatment of CP/CPPS.


METHODS
This study is designed as a randomized, sham acupuncture-controlled trial. We will compare patients with CP/CPPS in an acupuncture group and a sham acupuncture group. Sixty-eight patients will be randomly allocated to receive acupuncture or sham acupuncture. The treatments will consist of 30-min sessions, three times weekly, for 8 weeks. The primary outcome measure is change in the weekly mean National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) total score from baseline through the 8-week treatment period. Secondary measures include the NIH-CPSI subscale scores, the total International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), patients' response rate, and patient satisfaction after treatment. We will also assess changes in the NIH-CPSI total score from baseline at the 20thand 32ndweek of follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
This is a randomized, sham-controlled trial of acupuncture treatment for CP/CPPS. The results of this trial will provide more evidence on whether acupuncture is efficacious for treating CP/CPPS.


BACKGROUND
Clinical Trials.gov NCT02588274.
Department of Acupuncture, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100053, China.|Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China.
Zongshi
Z
Qin
Department of Acupuncture, Yantai Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yantai, 265200, China.
Zhiwei
Z
Zang
Department of Acupuncture, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100053, China.
Jiani
J
Wu
Department of Acupuncture, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100053, China.|Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China.
Jing
J
Zhou
Department of Acupuncture, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100053, China. liuzhishun@aliyun.com.
Zhishun
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1934-2962
Z
Liu
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D011472:Prostatitis / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
Acupuncture; Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome; Efficacy; Randomized controlled trial