Elderly (people Aged 65 or More)Su-Jok TherapyNCT06817824
The Effect of Su-Jok Therapy Applied to the Elderly on Constipation Symptoms and Quality of Life
A study testing Su-jok therapy in people with Elderly (people Aged 65 or More) and Quality of Life, run by Hasan Kalyoncu University.
Trial summary
This article discusses the prevalence and health implications of constipation in the elderly population. Health problems increase with age and negatively affect quality of life. Constipation is a common problem in the elderly that severely reduces quality of life and is associated with many factors. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 65 to 100 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Elderly (people Aged 65 or More), Quality of Life, Constipation
- What is being tested?
- Su-jok therapy
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 80 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 1 Feb 2025to 20 Oct 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 65 to 100 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Young individuals aged 65-74 years, middle-aged individuals aged 75-84 years and hospitalised individuals aged 85 years and over who agreed to participate in the study,
- Scores of 24 and above on the Mini Mental Test,
- Those who score 3 points and above on the Visual Comparison Scale,
- Those who meet the Rome IV Criteria,
- Elderly people aged 65 years and over who do not have any lesion, infection, etc. that would prevent the application of Su Jok treatment on the hands and feet, who do not have acute diarrhoea, who do not have significant intestinal pathology such as incontinence and faecal impaction, who do not have inflammatory bowel disease, who have not had bowel surgery before, who do not use laxatives during the application will be included in the study.
Who cannot join
- Those who do not fulfil the inclusion criteria,
- Patients with cognitive impairment such as dementia and Alzheimer's,
- Patients with hearing problems or using hearing aids,
- Older people who did not want to participate in the study.
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
This article discusses the prevalence and health implications of constipation in the elderly population. Health problems increase with age and negatively affect quality of life. Constipation is a common problem in the elderly that severely reduces quality of life and is associated with many factors. Pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic methods are used for the management of constipation, but long-term use of pharmacologic treatments may lead to adverse effects. Therefore, non-pharmacologic approaches are gaining more importance.
In this context, Su Jok therapy, as an oriental medicine method, is a treatment method that aims to affect various organs of the body by using reflection points on the hands and feet. It is argued that Su Jok therapy can be beneficial in terms of symptom management and improving quality of life, especially in fields such as nursing and midwifery. In Turkey, there are no studies examining the effect of Su Jok therapy on constipation symptoms. This project aims to determine the effect of Su Jok therapy on constipation symptoms and quality of life, and the results are expected to contribute to the development of health services and treatment methods
Read the detailed description
With the increase in chronic diseases in the elderly population, millions of people need nursing home and home care. Changes in health status with advancing age negatively affect the quality of life of the elderly and the elderly face many complex health problems. One of the common problems in the elderly is constipation. Diet low in fiber or fluids, immobility, general pain or discomfort, local pain due to hemorrhoids or anal fissure, medical problems such as irritable bowel syndrome or Parkinson's disease, drug treatments such as analgesics, antidepressants, psychiatric disorders such as depression, stress and changes in the individual's life cause constipation. Constipation is defined as infrequent defecation or difficulty in emptying the stool. It is associated with various symptoms such as hard stools, straining, feeling of anorectal obstruction, feeling of inadequate emptying, prolonged defecation time, unsuccessful defecation attempts, abdominal pain and bloating.
In addition to serious health problems, constipation has a serious negative impact on the quality of life of individuals that cannot be ignored. It is important to monitor and treat constipation, which is an important health problem in the elderly because it decreases the quality of life, causes loss of energy, increases health care costs and leads to serious medical problems. Therefore, it is extremely important to monitor constipation, to raise awareness about constipation in elderly individuals and to provide rapid treatment of constipation. Currently, pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic approaches are used in the management of constipation. In addition to medication (laxatives, suppositories, enemas), interventions such as biofeedback, acupressure, education, bowel habituation, exercise, yoga, aromatherapy, stress management and abdominal massage are generally utilized. Although the use of common pharmacological approaches in the management of constipation is effective in alleviating symptoms in the short term, long-term use of these agents may cause adverse effects such as diarrhea and metabolic disorders.
In addition, the fact that laxatives are costly and cause fluid, acid-base imbalance and electrolyte loss as a result of inappropriate use makes non-pharmacological methods necessary.
Su Jok therapy was developed by South Korean scientist Professor Woo Jae Woo (1942-2010) in 1986. In Korean, "Su" means hand and "Jok" means foot . In Su Jok therapy, it is argued that there are reflection points of the body in the hands and feet and that these points activate every organ and part of the body like a remote control.
Holistic approaches, energy flow and meridians form the basis of Su Jok therapy . Su Jok is an integrated therapy method that includes many tried and trusted methods of oriental medicine. In particular, it is similar in content to practices such as acupuncture and acupressure, which are approaches expressed by the same philosophy.
In the literature, it is argued that nurses can apply Su Jok therapy as an integrative method in symptom management for reasons such as the simplicity of the application of Su Jok therapy, which is similar to the philosophy of integrative nursing, the absence of any side effects and the absence of an interventional intervention. In our country, no study examining the effect of Su Jok Therapy on constipation symptoms has been found. In the study to be conducted within the scope of this project, it is aimed to determine the effect of Su Jok therapy on constipation symptoms and quality of life and to pioneer future research. The results obtained in the study in this project are thought to contribute significantly to the development of midwifery and nursing practices. When the data targeted in the study are reached, it is aimed to use Su Jok therapy as a non-pharmacological method in our country, and also to improve constipation symptoms and quality of life in preventive, curative and therapeutic health service provision.
- Being tested
- Su-jok therapy
- Keywords
- elderly, constipation, sujok therapy
- Medical subject headings
- Constipation
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Su-jok therapyOther
Su Jok therapy was developed by South Korean scientist Professor Woo Jae Woo (1942-2010) in 1986. In Korean language, 'Su' means hand and 'Jok' means foot (Friman \& Chelala, 2016; Ivanov 2018; Woo 1987, 1991, 2000, 2002, 2007; Sharma \& Sharma, 2015). In Su Jok therapy, it is argued that there are reflection points of the body in the hands and feet and that these points activate every organ and part of the body like a remote control (Woo 1987, 1991, 2000, 2002, 2007; Şimşek \& Alpar, 2020).
Holistic approaches, energy flow and meridians form the basis of Su Jok therapy (Ivanov, 2018; Seth, 2013). Su Jok is an integrated therapy method that includes many tried and trusted methods of oriental medicine (Ponni, 2011; Rodríguez et al., 2018; Seth, 2013). In particular, it is similar in content to practices such as acupuncture and acupressure, which are approaches expressed by the same philosophy (Ivanov 2018; Ponni, 2011; Rodríguez et al., 2018).
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Control | No intervention | Over 65 years of age with constipation |
| experiment | Experimental | Over 65 years of age with constipation Receives: Other: Su-jok therapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
The Effect of Su-Jok Therapy Applied to the Elderly on Constipation Symptoms
Rome IV Criteria Rome IV criteria are frequently used to diagnose functional constipation without an organic aetiology. Symptom-based Rome criteria were developed by an international team in line with the consensus of experts in the field . In the mid-1980s, more than 20 criteria were developed and a series of committee decisions were published by the Rome Committees convened to categorise and classify functional gastrointestinal disorders. These documents were subsequently updated and published as Rome I criteria in 1994. These criteria have been updated several times until today, and after 10 years of use of Rome III, the latest version of the criteria was published as Rome IV in May 2016 . Rome IV criteria are the most frequently used consensus definitions for clinical and research in the definition of constipation and can be easily understood and answered by patients.
Measured: Regression of constipation symptoms in 3 months
Secondary outcomes (1)
The Effect of Water Jok Therapy Applied to the Elderly on Quality of Life
Constipation Quality of Life Scale (QoLQS) It is the only scale originally developed to measure quality of life in individuals with constipation. Developed by Marquis et al. in 2005, the QoLQS has a total of 4 sub-dimensions and 28 questions, including 11 questions in the 'worry/anxiety' sub-dimension, 4 questions in the 'physical discomfort' sub-dimension, 8 questions in the 'psychosocial discomfort' sub-dimension, and 5 questions in the 'satisfaction' sub-dimension. Questions 18, 25, 26, 27 and 28 in the scale are calculated by reversing them. Scores that can be obtained from the 5-point Likert-type scale are between 28-140. The increase in the scores that can be obtained from the scale indicates that the quality of life is deteriorating.
Measured: Regression of constipation symptoms in 3 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted10 Feb 2025
- Study start1 Feb 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completion20 Oct 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion20 Oct 2025 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Elderly (people Aged 65 or More)Studies 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
- Other
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- It is aimed to measure how it affects the quality of life as well as the improvement of constipation symptoms in the elderly after the application of Su Jok therapy. When the targeted data is reached, it is thought that it will contribute to the use of Su Jok therapy as a non-pharmacological method in the treatment of constipation in our country. In addition, since we are an aging country, the targeted group of individuals over the age of 65 is of particular importance. Since the population of the elderly is increasing, it is thought that the determination and application of alternative approaches that have a positive contribution to health and economic alternative approaches to improve the quality of life of the elderly will make significant contributions to both individuals and the ccountry's economy.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 80 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Hasan Kalyoncu University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Leyla SEZGİN, Muş Alparslan University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06817824
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- E-35465298-605-233507607
- Acronym
- Su-Jok Therapy
- Status last verified
- Jan 2025
- First submitted
- 6 Jan 2025
- Last updated
- 10 Feb 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 10 Feb 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of Su-Jok Therapy Applied to the Elderly on Constipation Symptoms and Quality of Life
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06817824
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Su-Jok Therapy / E-35465298-605-233507607
- Keywords
- elderly, constipation, sujok therapy
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 80 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Hasan Kalyoncu UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Feb 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 20 Oct 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 20 Oct 2025 (estimated)
- First posted
- 10 Feb 2025 (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 article discusses the prevalence and health implications of constipation in the elderly population. Health problems increase with age and negatively affect quality of life. Constipation is a common problem in the elderly that severely reduces quality of life and is associated with many factors. Pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic methods are used for the management of constipation, but long-term use of pharmacologic treatments may lead to adverse effects. Therefore, non-pharmacologic approaches are gaining more importance.
In this context, Su Jok therapy, as an oriental medicine method, is a treatment method that aims to affect various organs of the body by using reflection points on the hands and feet. It is argued that Su Jok therapy can be beneficial in terms of symptom management and improving quality of life, especially in fields such as nursing and midwifery. In Turkey, there are no studies examining the effect of Su Jok therapy on constipation symptoms. This project aims to determine the effect of Su Jok therapy on constipation symptoms and quality of life, and the results are expected to contribute to the development of health services and treatment methods
Detailed description
With the increase in chronic diseases in the elderly population, millions of people need nursing home and home care. Changes in health status with advancing age negatively affect the quality of life of the elderly and the elderly face many complex health problems. One of the common problems in the elderly is constipation. Diet low in fiber or fluids, immobility, general pain or discomfort, local pain due to hemorrhoids or anal fissure, medical problems such as irritable bowel syndrome or Parkinson's disease, drug treatments such as analgesics, antidepressants, psychiatric disorders such as depression, stress and changes in the individual's life cause constipation. Constipation is defined as infrequent defecation or difficulty in emptying the stool. It is associated with various symptoms such as hard stools, straining, feeling of anorectal obstruction, feeling of inadequate emptying, prolonged defecation time, unsuccessful defecation attempts, abdominal pain and bloating.
In addition to serious health problems, constipation has a serious negative impact on the quality of life of individuals that cannot be ignored. It is important to monitor and treat constipation, which is an important health problem in the elderly because it decreases the quality of life, causes loss of energy, increases health care costs and leads to serious medical problems. Therefore, it is extremely important to monitor constipation, to raise awareness about constipation in elderly individuals and to provide rapid treatment of constipation. Currently, pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic approaches are used in the management of constipation. In addition to medication (laxatives, suppositories, enemas), interventions such as biofeedback, acupressure, education, bowel habituation, exercise, yoga, aromatherapy, stress management and abdominal massage are generally utilized. Although the use of common pharmacological approaches in the management of constipation is effective in alleviating symptoms in the short term, long-term use of these agents may cause adverse effects such as diarrhea and metabolic disorders.
In addition, the fact that laxatives are costly and cause fluid, acid-base imbalance and electrolyte loss as a result of inappropriate use makes non-pharmacological methods necessary.
Su Jok therapy was developed by South Korean scientist Professor Woo Jae Woo (1942-2010) in 1986. In Korean, "Su" means hand and "Jok" means foot . In Su Jok therapy, it is argued that there are reflection points of the body in the hands and feet and that these points activate every organ and part of the body like a remote control.
Holistic approaches, energy flow and meridians form the basis of Su Jok therapy . Su Jok is an integrated therapy method that includes many tried and trusted methods of oriental medicine. In particular, it is similar in content to practices such as acupuncture and acupressure, which are approaches expressed by the same philosophy.
In the literature, it is argued that nurses can apply Su Jok therapy as an integrative method in symptom management for reasons such as the simplicity of the application of Su Jok therapy, which is similar to the philosophy of integrative nursing, the absence of any side effects and the absence of an interventional intervention. In our country, no study examining the effect of Su Jok Therapy on constipation symptoms has been found. In the study to be conducted within the scope of this project, it is aimed to determine the effect of Su Jok therapy on constipation symptoms and quality of life and to pioneer future research. The results obtained in the study in this project are thought to contribute significantly to the development of midwifery and nursing practices. When the data targeted in the study are reached, it is aimed to use Su Jok therapy as a non-pharmacological method in our country, and also to improve constipation symptoms and quality of life in preventive, curative and therapeutic health service provision.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- It is aimed to measure how it affects the quality of life as well as the improvement of constipation symptoms in the elderly after the application of Su Jok therapy. When the targeted data is reached, it is thought that it will contribute to the use of Su Jok therapy as a non-pharmacological method in the treatment of constipation in our country. In addition, since we are an aging country, the targeted group of individuals over the age of 65 is of particular importance. Since the population of the elderly is increasing, it is thought that the determination and application of alternative approaches that have a positive contribution to health and economic alternative approaches to improve the quality of life of the elderly will make significant contributions to both individuals and the ccountry's economy.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Control | No intervention | –Over 65 years of age with constipation |
| experiment | Experimental | Other: Su-jok therapyOver 65 years of age with constipation |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 65 to 100 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Young individuals aged 65-74 years, middle-aged individuals aged 75-84 years and hospitalised individuals aged 85 years and over who agreed to participate in the study,
- Scores of 24 and above on the Mini Mental Test,
- Those who score 3 points and above on the Visual Comparison Scale,
- Those who meet the Rome IV Criteria,
- Elderly people aged 65 years and over who do not have any lesion, infection, etc. that would prevent the application of Su Jok treatment on the hands and feet, who do not have acute diarrhoea, who do not have significant intestinal pathology such as incontinence and faecal impaction, who do not have inflammatory bowel disease, who have not had bowel surgery before, who do not use laxatives during the application will be included in the study.
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Those who do not fulfil the inclusion criteria,
- Patients with cognitive impairment such as dementia and Alzheimer's,
- Patients with hearing problems or using hearing aids,
- Older people who did not want to participate in the study.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Su-jok therapySu Jok therapy was developed by South Korean scientist Professor Woo Jae Woo (1942-2010) in 1986. In Korean language, 'Su' means hand and 'Jok' means foot (Friman \& Chelala, 2016; Ivanov 2018; Woo 1987, 1991, 2000, 2002, 2007; Sharma \& Sharma, 2015). In Su Jok therapy, it is argued that there are reflection points of the body in the hands and feet and that these points activate every organ and part of the body like a remote control (Woo 1987, 1991, 2000, 2002, 2007; Şimşek \& Alpar, 2020). Holistic approaches, energy flow and meridians form the basis of Su Jok therapy (Ivanov, 2018; Seth, 2013). Su Jok is an integrated therapy method that includes many tried and trusted methods of oriental medicine (Ponni, 2011; Rodríguez et al., 2018; Seth, 2013). In particular, it is similar in content to practices such as acupuncture and acupressure, which are approaches expressed by the same philosophy (Ivanov 2018; Ponni, 2011; Rodríguez et al., 2018). | Other | experiment |
Primary outcome
The Effect of Su-Jok Therapy Applied to the Elderly on Constipation Symptoms
Time frame: Regression of constipation symptoms in 3 months
Rome IV Criteria Rome IV criteria are frequently used to diagnose functional constipation without an organic aetiology. Symptom-based Rome criteria were developed by an international team in line with the consensus of experts in the field . In the mid-1980s, more than 20 criteria were developed and a series of committee decisions were published by the Rome Committees convened to categorise and classify functional gastrointestinal disorders. These documents were subsequently updated and published as Rome I criteria in 1994. These criteria have been updated several times until today, and after 10 years of use of Rome III, the latest version of the criteria was published as Rome IV in May 2016 . Rome IV criteria are the most frequently used consensus definitions for clinical and research in the definition of constipation and can be easily understood and answered by patients.
1 secondary outcome
The Effect of Water Jok Therapy Applied to the Elderly on Quality of Life
Time frame: Regression of constipation symptoms in 3 months
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 10 Feb 2025.
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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.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Su-jok therapy in people with Elderly (people Aged 65 or More) and Quality of Life, run by Hasan Kalyoncu University.
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 5 inclusion and 4 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Feb 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Leyla Sezgin, lecturer (538 456 73 96, leyla.sezgin@alparslan.edu.tr), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
The Effect of Su-Jok Therapy Applied to the Elderly on Constipation Symptoms (time frame: Regression of constipation symptoms in 3 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 10 Feb 2025.