Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39875940›Full record

ArticleBMC nursing2025

Self-administered active versus sham acupressure for diarrhea predominant irritable bowel syndrome: a nurse-led randomized clinical trial.

Maha Gamal Ramadan Asal, Ahmed Abdelwahab Ibrahim El-Sayed, Samira Ahmed Alsenany, Zahraa Hassan Ramzy, Rasha Fathy Ahmed Dawood

Registry-linked trialAbstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in BMC nursing, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT05702255 (Effect of Self- Administered Acupressure on Diarrhea Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patients' Health Outcomes), which is not on this map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT05702255 nacompletednot on this map

Effect of Self- Administered Acupressure on Diarrhea Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patients' Health Outcomes: a Double Blind- Sham Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorAlexandria UniversityRan2023 to 2023Enrolled70ConditionsIrritable Bowel Syndrome With DiarrheaArmsActive acupressure, Sham acuptressure
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Maha Gamal Ramadan AsalMedical Surgical Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9348-8898
Ahmed Abdelwahab Ibrahim El-SayedNursing Administration Department, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt. ahmed-abdelwahab@alexu.edu.eg.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9124-0808
Samira Ahmed AlsenanyPublic Health Department, Faculty of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-2811-0458
Zahraa Hassan RamzyMedical Surgical Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
Rasha Fathy Ahmed DawoodMedical Surgical Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2727-0794

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDiarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) significantly impacts patients' quality of life, with existing treatments offering limited relief. Self-administered acupressure presents a potential non-invasive, cost-effective treatment option that could alleviate symptoms and enhance health outcomes in these patients.

aimThis randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effect of active acupressure compared to sham acupressure on primary and secondary outcomes among IBS-D patients.

methodThe study included 63 patients with IBS-D, recruited from Alexandria Main University Hospital, Egypt. Participants were randomized into either an active acupressure group or a sham acupressure group. Both groups underwent two days of training, followed by four weeks of intervention. The active group applied pressure to specific therapeutic acupoints, while the sham group used non-therapeutic points. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, week 2, and week 4.

resultsThe active acupressure group showed a significant reduction in symptom severity, improved stool consistency, and frequency, and greater adequate symptom relief by week 4 compared to the sham group. Psychological outcomes, including anxiety and depression, also improved significantly in the active group. Additionally, the active group reported reduced use of rescue medications.

conclusionActive acupressure is an effective nursing intervention for alleviating symptoms of IBS-D, particularly when applied consistently over time. It improves both physical and psychological outcomes, offering a valuable non-pharmacological treatment option. IMPLICATIONS: Nurses can integrate self-administered acupressure into IBS-D care plans, teaching patients this technique to manage symptoms independently, thus enhancing their quality of life (QOL) and reducing reliance on conventional medications. This intervention aligns with holistic nursing care and offers a cost-effective, patient-friendly solution for managing IBS-D.

trial registrationThis study was prospectively registered as a randomized controlled trial in https://clinicaltrials.gov/ Registration Date: January 7, 2023, Registration Number: NCT05702255.

Indexed as

Active acupressureDiarrheaIrritable bowel syndromeNurse led TrialNursing Care.Randomized Controlled TrialSham acupressure

Identifiers

PMID39875940
PMCPMC11776273

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.