Thread Embedding vs. Electroacupuncture for Post-Stroke Aphasia (NCT06864442) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
Thread Embedding vs. Electroacupuncture for Post-Stroke Aphasia
Vietnam60 participantsStarted 2021-08-01
Plain-language summary
The goal of this clinical trial was to learn if thread embedding or electroacupuncture can treat language function impairment in patients with post-stroke aphasia, a condition affecting communication after a stroke. The main questions it aimed to answer were:
Does thread embedding improve overall language function more effectively than electroacupuncture, as measured by the Goodglass and Kaplan Aphasia Severity Rating Scale (ASRS)? How do thread embedding and electroacupuncture compare in improving specific language skills, such as motor speech, sensory language, reading, and naming, as assessed by the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination (BDAE)? Researchers compared thread embedding (TE group) to electroacupuncture (EA group) to see if thread embedding provides better or similar effects on language recovery.
Participants:
Underwent a 30-day intervention with language assessments at the start and end of the period.
Were randomly assigned to either the thread embedding group, receiving treatment every 10 days, or the electroacupuncture group, receiving daily 20-minute sessions.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Diagnosed with post-stroke aphasia (severity levels 0-4 on the Goodglass and Kaplan scale)
* Aged 18 years or older
* Fluent in Vietnamese
* Alert and mentally competent (no psychiatric or neurological disorders affecting communication)
* No pre-existing speech or language disorders
* Willing to participate and provide signed informed consent
* Treated as inpatients at the Traditional Medicine Hospital, Dak Lak
Exclusion Criteria:
* Severe physical exhaustion or skin ulcers/infections at intervention sites
* Presence of a pacemaker
* Allergy to catgut threads
* Post-stroke patients awaiting cranioplasty
* Complex disease progression requiring alternative treatments during the study (data analyzed as treatment failures)
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination (BDAE)
Timeframe: Day 0 and Day 30
2
Goodglass and Kaplan's Aphasia Severity Rating Scale (ASRS)