Evaluation of the Pain Relief Effect of Battlefield Acupuncture on Patients With Chronic Low Back… (NCT06874959) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
Evaluation of the Pain Relief Effect of Battlefield Acupuncture on Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain Due to Lumbar Spine Degeneration.
Vietnam60 participantsStarted 2025-03-15
Plain-language summary
The Global Burden of Disease's 2023 study shows that lower back pain affects over 619 million people worldwide, with projections reaching 843 million by 2050. It is a common symptom of lumbar spine degeneration, with 84.2% of patients experiencing it. To address this issue, Vietnam's Ministry of Health has released guidelines on "Lumbar Spine Pain" (Yêu thống), combining traditional and modern medicine, including acupuncture, to alleviate pain. However, to achieve better treatment outcomes, the combination of multiple interventions, such as different types of acupuncture, is required. Additionally, the USAF's Integrative Medicine and Acupuncture Center released guidelines in 2021 for Battlefield Acupuncture (BFA), a rapid, safe, and effective pain relief method. Internationally, there are studies on BFA for various types of pain, including lower back pain, but none in Vietnam. Therefore, the investigators conducted this study to evaluate the effects of BFA combined with electroacupuncture and pain medication on chronic lower back pain patients with lumbar spine degeneration in Vietnam.
Who can participate
Age range
20 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:
* Patients aged 20 years and older.
* Patients diagnosed with lumbar spine degeneration (Imaging and clinical criteria according to the "Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Musculoskeletal Diseases" - Ministry of Health of Viet Nam 2014; AAFP-2024).
* Patients with back pain with a VAS score of ≥ 50mm, continuous or recurrent with the same initial diagnosed cause, lasting from the time of initial diagnosis to the time of study participation for ≥ 3 months.
* Individuals who have never used auricular acupuncture.
* Voluntarily agree to participate in the study.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Individuals with cognitive disorders (Glasgow \< 13 points).
* Individuals are allergic to any component of the ear acupressure seeds, or experiencing anxiety, fear of needles, or with a history of acupuncture syncope.
* Patients with symptoms of saddle anesthesia, urinary or fecal incontinence, paresthesia or muscle atrophy, progressive muscle weakness.
* History of cancer or currently undergoing cancer treatment, or unexplained weight loss.
* Patients who are awakened at night due to back pain.
* Patients contraindicated the medication used in the study: paracetamol.
* Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
* Patients are currently experiencing systemic infection.
* Individuals with unhealed wounds, ear or lumbar region infections.
* Currently participating in an intervention study with another drug or device.
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.