This is a two-armed, parallel-design, patient-assessor blinded, multicenter, randomized, sham-controlled pilot clinical trial. Two clinical research centers in South Korea will conduct the trial: Daejeon Oriental Hospital of Daejeon University and Kyung Hee University Oriental Hospital at Gangdong.
To recruit participants, flyers, daily local newspapers, and advertisement boards at research centers will be utilized. Potential candidates will visit the research centers for screening assessment and to sign informed consent for trial participation after being informed about the aim and details of the study. Eligible participants will be randomly allocated at a 1:1 ratio to one of two arms: electroacupuncture plus moxibustion (treatment group) or sham acupuncture with mock electrical stimulation plus sham moxibustion (control group). Participants will receive treatment for 8 weeks and then visit the research centers twice during a 4-week follow-up period (Fig.1 ).![]()
To recruit participants, flyers, daily local newspapers, and advertisement boards at research centers will be utilized. Potential candidates will visit the research centers for screening assessment and to sign informed consent for trial participation after being informed about the aim and details of the study. Eligible participants will be randomly allocated at a 1:1 ratio to one of two arms: electroacupuncture plus moxibustion (treatment group) or sham acupuncture with mock electrical stimulation plus sham moxibustion (control group). Participants will receive treatment for 8 weeks and then visit the research centers twice during a 4-week follow-up period (Fig.
Flow chart of the trial
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