Title |
Abdominal massage for neurogenic bowel dysfunction in people with multiple sclerosis (AMBER — Abdominal Massage for Bowel Dysfunction Effectiveness Research): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
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Published in |
Trials, March 2017
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DOI | 10.1186/s13063-017-1890-y |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Doreen McClurg, Kirsteen Goodman, Suzanne Hagen, Fional Harris, Sean Treweek, Anton Emmanuel, Christine Norton, Maureen Coggrave, Selina Doran, John Norrie, Peter Donnan, Helen Mason, Sarkis Manoukian |
Abstract |
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a life-long condition primarily affecting younger adults. Neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD) occurs in 50-80% of these patients and is the term used to describe constipation and faecal incontinence, which often co-exist. Data from a pilot study suggested feasibility of using abdominal massage for the relief of constipation, but the effectiveness remains uncertain. This is a multi-centred patient randomised superiority trial comparing an experimental strategy of once daily abdominal massage for 6 weeks against a control strategy of no massage in people with MS who have stated that their constipation is bothersome. The primary outcome is the Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction Score at 24 weeks. Both groups will receive optimised advice plus the MS Society booklet on bowel management in MS, and will continue to receive usual care. Participants and their clinicians will not be blinded to the allocated intervention. Outcome measures are primarily self-reported and submitted anonymously. Central trial staff who will manage and analyse the trial data will be unaware of participant allocations. Analysis will follow intention-to-treat principles. This pragmatic randomised controlled trial will demonstrate if abdominal massage is an effective, cost-effective and viable addition to the treatment of NBD in people with MS. ClinicalTrials.gov, ISRCTN85007023 . Registered on 10 June 2014. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 1 | 13% |
Canada | 1 | 13% |
United Kingdom | 1 | 13% |
Unknown | 5 | 63% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 6 | 75% |
Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 1 | 13% |
Scientists | 1 | 13% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Unknown | 198 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Master | 40 | 20% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 18 | 9% |
Researcher | 16 | 8% |
Student > Bachelor | 16 | 8% |
Student > Postgraduate | 10 | 5% |
Other | 29 | 15% |
Unknown | 69 | 35% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Nursing and Health Professions | 49 | 25% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 38 | 19% |
Unspecified | 9 | 5% |
Psychology | 7 | 4% |
Economics, Econometrics and Finance | 4 | 2% |
Other | 17 | 9% |
Unknown | 74 | 37% |