Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41357515›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in medicine2025

Effect of electro-acupuncture on postpartum urinary retention: a protocol for multicenter, randomized and placebo-controlled trial.

Zhen Dou, Yunzhi Zhang, Hongyan Cui, Xiaoli Zhao, Lijing Dai, Baojuan Wang, Yu Fu, Tian Xia, Ying Chang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

9 authors.

Zhen Dou *Department of Reproductive Medicine, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China.
Yunzhi Zhang *School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
Hongyan Cui *Department of Obstetrics, Tianjin Central Hospital of Gynecology Obstetrics, Tianjin, China.
Xiaoli ZhaoDepartment of Reproductive Medicine, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China.
Lijing DaiSecond People's Hospital of Fengrun District, Tangshan City, Tangshan, Hebei, China.
Baojuan WangDepartment of Reproductive Medicine, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China.
Yu FuDepartment of Acupuncture, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China.
Tian XiaDepartment of Reproductive Medicine, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China.
Ying ChangTianjin Central Hospital of Gynecology Obstetrics, Tianjin, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Postpartum urinary retention (PUR) is a common and clinically relevant complication after delivery. Although urinary catheterization can provide temporary relief from voiding disorders, it is associated with discomfort, pain, potential urethral trauma, and an increased risk of urinary tract infection. Preliminary randomized and observational studies have suggested that acupuncture may facilitate voiding and early bladder recovery in PUR; however, the current evidence base remains limited by small sample sizes, heterogeneous methods, and risk of bias. To address these gaps, we designed a multicenter, randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial to evaluate whether electroacupuncture (EA) reduces the incidence of PUR and improves early bladder recovery. Methods: This is a multicenter, randomized, parallel-group clinical trial conducted in China to investigate the impact of EA intervention on the incidence of PUR. Patient screening and enrollment will take place at four hospitals in China: the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin Central Hospital of Gynecology Obstetrics, Tianjin Shuige Hospital and Second People's Hospital of Fengrun District, Tangshan City. Patients will be randomly assigned to either the EA group or the sham acupuncture group, with 330 patients in each group. Each acupuncture treatment will comprise three 30-min sessions over 2 days (the first hour, the first day, and the second day after delivery). The primary outcome measure is the incidence of PUR. Adverse events will be recorded, and their impact will be analyzed at the end of the trial. Conclusion: This multicenter, randomized, sham-controlled trial is designed to rigorously evaluate whether EA reduces the incidence of PUR and accelerates early bladder recovery. The findings will contribute evidence to inform the role of non-pharmacologic interventions in postpartum rehabilitation. Clinical trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2300078039.

Indexed as

bladder function recoverycontrolled clinical trialelectroacupuncturenon-pharmacological therapypostpartum urinary retention

Identifiers

PMID41357515
PMCPMC12677064

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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 OpenQuestion graph.