AcupunctureNCT03938415
Acupuncture for Vasectomy Pre-procedural Anxiety and Pain Control in the Primary Care Setting
A study testing Acupuncture and Standardized pre-procedure medications in people with Acupuncture and Pain, Postoperative, run by Matthew Snyder at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This study compares auricular (ear) acupuncture and body acupuncture (Koffman protocol) versus clinic standardized pre-vasectomy medications to determine which has better outcomes at improving pre-procedural anxiety and procedural pain relief and medication usage in adult male patients following vasectomy. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 25 years and older, men only
- Conditions the study is for
- Acupuncture, Pain, Postoperative, Vasectomy
- What is being tested?
- Acupuncture and Standardized pre-procedure medications
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine, Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 46 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Jun 2019to 11 Apr 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 25 years and older
- Men only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Male active duty members and DoD beneficiaries aged 25 years or older
- Scheduled for a vasectomy
Who cannot join
- Repeat vasectomy
- Chronic pain medication/benzodiazepine use
- Current pain contract/pain management
- Current anxiolytic medication
- History of needle shock
- Diagnosis of anxiety
Show all 9Show fewer
- Needle phobia
- Blood/injury phobia
- History of vasovagal reflex response
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Mike O'Callaghan Military Medical Center
Las Vegas, Nevada, 89191
About this study
Official title: Acupuncture for Vasectomy Pre-procedural Anxiety and Pain Control in the Primary Care Setting: A Randomized Comparative Effectiveness Trial
This study compares auricular (ear) acupuncture and body acupuncture (Koffman protocol) versus clinic standardized pre-vasectomy medications to determine which has better outcomes at improving pre-procedural anxiety and procedural pain relief and medication usage in adult male patients following vasectomy.
Read the detailed description
The investigators will compare auricular (ear) and body acupuncture (Koffman protocol) versus clinic standardized pre-vasectomy medications to determine which has better outcomes at improving pre-procedural anxiety and procedural pain relief and medication usage in adult male patients following vasectomy. In this efficacy trial, the investigators hypothesize that acupuncture will provide therapeutic anxiety and pain relief during and after vasectomy. The investigators will measure anxiety immediately before and prior to the procedure and before and after the intervention via a standardized anxiety scale (comparative). The investigators will also measure pain control immediately after the procedure using Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS). At the post op check (2-4 days after procedure) subjects will fill out a patient satisfaction survey. During the recovery period over 2 weeks, a medication usage diary will be kept by the subject including the time when the patient returns to full duties.
- Conditions
- Acupuncture, Pain, Postoperative, Vasectomy
- Being tested
- Acupuncture, Standardized pre-procedure medications
- Medical subject headings
- Pain, Postoperative
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
AcupunctureProcedure or surgery
Acupuncture involving the Koffman protocol (body acupuncture) for anxiety control (needles will be placed at bilateral LR-3, bilateral LI-4, GV 24.5 and GV 20) and Auricular ATP Plus (ear) for pain control (needles will be placed at points hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus, prefrontal cortex, Point Zero, Shen Men, vagus, insula, external genitalia). Subjects who tolerate the auricular needles will be offered replacement with ASP acupuncture needles for continued pain management post-procedure. The subjects will receive local anesthetic during the vasectomy per standardized clinic protocol.
Standardized pre-procedure medicationsOther
The clinic standardized pre-procedure medications alone (which include diazepam 5 mg by mouth (PO) x1 30 minutes prior to the procedure, an additional 5 mg PO x1 15 minutes later if desired effect is not achieved; and oxycodone/acetaminophen 5/325 mg PO x 1 30 minutes prior to the procedure. The subjects will receive local anesthetic during the vasectomy per standardized clinic protocol.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Acupuncture | Experimental | Acupuncture Receives: Procedure: Acupuncture |
| Standardized pre-procedure medications | Active comparator | The clinic standardized pre-procedure medications alone Receives: Other: Standardized pre-procedure medications |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) -- Medication Arm
The HADS is a self-rating scale developed to assess psychological distress in non-psychiatric patients. It consists of two subscales, Anxiety and Depression, each having seven items and a score range of 0 to 21. The HADS has been satisfactorily used in the general population and a number of clinical settings. A score less than 8 is considered as being normal, 8 to 10 as suggestive of anxiety or depression, and greater than 11 as being probable of anxiety or depression. The HADS score is ordinal and will be analyzed using nonparametric methods
Measured: Day 0 (2x)
Change in Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) -- Acupuncture Arm
The HADS is a self-rating scale developed to assess psychological distress in non-psychiatric patients. It consists of two subscales, Anxiety and Depression, each having seven items and a score range of 0 to 21. The HADS has been satisfactorily used in the general population and a number of clinical settings. A score less than 8 is considered as being normal, 8 to 10 as suggestive of anxiety or depression, and greater than 11 as being probable of anxiety or depression. The HADS score is ordinal and will be analyzed using nonparametric methods
Measured: Day 0 (2x)
Change in Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS)
The DVPRS consists of an 11-point numerical rating scale with 0 indicating no pain and 10 indicating severe pain. It has been confirmed for reliability and validity in measuring both acute and chronic pain, and is currently the standard for pain measurement throughout DoD and VA health systems. The DVPRS has demonstrated linear scale qualities allowing parametric methods to be used
Measured: Day: 0 (pre-procedure), 0 (post-procedure),1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted6 May 2019
- Study start1 Jun 2019
- Primary completion11 Apr 2025
- Study completion11 Apr 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (5)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for AcupunctureStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 46 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Matthew Snyder
- Sponsor type
- US federal agency
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Matthew Snyder, Mike O'Callaghan Military Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03938415
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- FWH20190062H
- Status last verified
- Apr 2025
- First submitted
- 30 Apr 2019
- Last updated
- 15 Apr 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: The investigators do not plan on sharing data
Publications
Wunsch JK, Klausenitz C, Janner H, Hesse T, Mustea A, Hahnenkamp K, Petersmann A, Usichenko TI. Auricular acupuncture for treatment of preoperative anxiety in patients scheduled for ambulatory gynaecological surgery: a prospective controlled investigation with a non-randomised arm. Acupunct Med. 2018 Aug;36(4):222-227. doi: 10.1136/acupmed-2017-011456. Epub 2018 Jul 9.
PubMed 29986900Wang SM, Peloquin C, Kain ZN. The use of auricular acupuncture to reduce preoperative anxiety. Anesth Analg. 2001 Nov;93(5):1178-80, table of contents. doi: 10.1097/00000539-200111000-00024.
PubMed 11682391Wang SM, Maranets I, Weinberg ME, Caldwell-Andrews AA, Kain ZN. Parental auricular acupuncture as an adjunct for parental presence during induction of anesthesia. Anesthesiology. 2004 Jun;100(6):1399-404. doi: 10.1097/00000542-200406000-00011.
PubMed 15166558Thomas M, Eriksson SV, Lundeberg T. A comparative study of diazepam and acupuncture in patients with osteoarthritis pain: a placebo controlled study. Am J Chin Med. 1991;19(2):95-100. doi: 10.1142/S0192415X91000156.
PubMed 1816730Sinha V, Ramasamy R. Post-vasectomy pain syndrome: diagnosis, management and treatment options. Transl Androl Urol. 2017 May;6(Suppl 1):S44-S47. doi: 10.21037/tau.2017.05.33.
PubMed 28725617
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 15 Apr 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Acupuncture for Vasectomy Pre-procedural Anxiety and Pain Control in the Primary Care Setting: A Randomized Comparative Effectiveness Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03938415
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- FWH20190062H
- Conditions
- Acupuncture, Pain, Postoperative, Vasectomy
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 46 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Matthew SnyderUS federal agency
- Study start
- 1 Jun 2019 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 11 Apr 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 11 Apr 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 6 May 2019 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study compares auricular (ear) acupuncture and body acupuncture (Koffman protocol) versus clinic standardized pre-vasectomy medications to determine which has better outcomes at improving pre-procedural anxiety and procedural pain relief and medication usage in adult male patients following vasectomy.
Detailed description
The investigators will compare auricular (ear) and body acupuncture (Koffman protocol) versus clinic standardized pre-vasectomy medications to determine which has better outcomes at improving pre-procedural anxiety and procedural pain relief and medication usage in adult male patients following vasectomy. In this efficacy trial, the investigators hypothesize that acupuncture will provide therapeutic anxiety and pain relief during and after vasectomy. The investigators will measure anxiety immediately before and prior to the procedure and before and after the intervention via a standardized anxiety scale (comparative). The investigators will also measure pain control immediately after the procedure using Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS). At the post op check (2-4 days after procedure) subjects will fill out a patient satisfaction survey. During the recovery period over 2 weeks, a medication usage diary will be kept by the subject including the time when the patient returns to full duties.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Acupuncture | Experimental | Procedure: AcupunctureAcupuncture |
| Standardized pre-procedure medications | Active comparator | Other: Standardized pre-procedure medicationsThe clinic standardized pre-procedure medications alone |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 25 years and older
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Male active duty members and DoD beneficiaries aged 25 years or older
- Scheduled for a vasectomy
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Repeat vasectomy
- Chronic pain medication/benzodiazepine use
- Current pain contract/pain management
- Current anxiolytic medication
- History of needle shock
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| AcupunctureAcupuncture involving the Koffman protocol (body acupuncture) for anxiety control (needles will be placed at bilateral LR-3, bilateral LI-4, GV 24.5 and GV 20) and Auricular ATP Plus (ear) for pain control (needles will be placed at points hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus, prefrontal cortex, Point Zero, Shen Men, vagus, insula, external genitalia). Subjects who tolerate the auricular needles will be offered replacement with ASP acupuncture needles for continued pain management post-procedure. The subjects will receive local anesthetic during the vasectomy per standardized clinic protocol. | Procedure or surgery | Acupuncture |
| Standardized pre-procedure medicationsThe clinic standardized pre-procedure medications alone (which include diazepam 5 mg by mouth (PO) x1 30 minutes prior to the procedure, an additional 5 mg PO x1 15 minutes later if desired effect is not achieved; and oxycodone/acetaminophen 5/325 mg PO x 1 30 minutes prior to the procedure. The subjects will receive local anesthetic during the vasectomy per standardized clinic protocol. | Other | Standardized pre-procedure medications |
Primary outcome
Change in Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) -- Medication Arm
Time frame: Day 0 (2x)
The HADS is a self-rating scale developed to assess psychological distress in non-psychiatric patients. It consists of two subscales, Anxiety and Depression, each having seven items and a score range of 0 to 21. The HADS has been satisfactorily used in the general population and a number of clinical settings. A score less than 8 is considered as being normal, 8 to 10 as suggestive of anxiety or depression, and greater than 11 as being probable of anxiety or depression. The HADS score is ordinal and will be analyzed using nonparametric methods
Change in Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) -- Acupuncture Arm
Time frame: Day 0 (2x)
The HADS is a self-rating scale developed to assess psychological distress in non-psychiatric patients. It consists of two subscales, Anxiety and Depression, each having seven items and a score range of 0 to 21. The HADS has been satisfactorily used in the general population and a number of clinical settings. A score less than 8 is considered as being normal, 8 to 10 as suggestive of anxiety or depression, and greater than 11 as being probable of anxiety or depression. The HADS score is ordinal and will be analyzed using nonparametric methods
Change in Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS)
Time frame: Day: 0 (pre-procedure), 0 (post-procedure),1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14
The DVPRS consists of an 11-point numerical rating scale with 0 indicating no pain and 10 indicating severe pain. It has been confirmed for reliability and validity in measuring both acute and chronic pain, and is currently the standard for pain measurement throughout DoD and VA health systems. The DVPRS has demonstrated linear scale qualities allowing parametric methods to be used
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 15 Apr 2025.
- Background: PubMed 29986900Wunsch JK, Klausenitz C, Janner H, Hesse T, Mustea A, Hahnenkamp K, Petersmann A, Usichenko TI. Auricular acupuncture for treatment of preoperative anxiety in patients scheduled for ambulatory gynaecological surgery: a prospective controlled investigation with a non-randomised arm. Acupunct Med. 2018 Aug;36(4):222-227. doi: 10.1136/acupmed-2017-011456. Epub 2018 Jul 9.
- Background: PubMed 11682391Wang SM, Peloquin C, Kain ZN. The use of auricular acupuncture to reduce preoperative anxiety. Anesth Analg. 2001 Nov;93(5):1178-80, table of contents. doi: 10.1097/00000539-200111000-00024.
- Background: PubMed 15166558Wang SM, Maranets I, Weinberg ME, Caldwell-Andrews AA, Kain ZN. Parental auricular acupuncture as an adjunct for parental presence during induction of anesthesia. Anesthesiology. 2004 Jun;100(6):1399-404. doi: 10.1097/00000542-200406000-00011.
- Background: PubMed 1816730Thomas M, Eriksson SV, Lundeberg T. A comparative study of diazepam and acupuncture in patients with osteoarthritis pain: a placebo controlled study. Am J Chin Med. 1991;19(2):95-100. doi: 10.1142/S0192415X91000156.
- Background: PubMed 28725617Sinha V, Ramasamy R. Post-vasectomy pain syndrome: diagnosis, management and treatment options. Transl Androl Urol. 2017 May;6(Suppl 1):S44-S47. doi: 10.21037/tau.2017.05.33.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. The investigators do not plan on sharing data
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Acupuncture and Standardized pre-procedure medications in people with Acupuncture and Pain, Postoperative, run by Matthew Snyder at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 Apr 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) -- Medication Arm (time frame: Day 0 (2x)). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03938415, which also lists 5 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 15 Apr 2025.