Electroacupuncture improves psychosocial outcomes in rectal cancer patients with bowel dysfunction

Table 2 Temporal changes in psychological outcomes between groups during the 4-week intervention period, mean ± SD

Psychological measure	Time point	Electroacupuncture group (n = 50)	Control group (n = 50)	Test statistic1	P value2
Anxiety (HADS-A, 0-21)	Baseline	8.1 ± 3.2	8.5 ± 3.5	U = 1189.0	0.547
	Week 1	6.7 ± 3.1	8.1 ± 3.4	U = 941.0	0.042
	Week 2	5.5 ± 2.8	7.7 ± 3.1	U = 778.5	< 0.001
	Week 4	4.8 ± 2.6	7.3 ± 3.0	U = 658.0	< 0.001
Depression (HADS-D, 0-21)	Baseline	7.6 ± 3.4	7.9 ± 3.7	U = 1202.5	0.671
	Week 1	6.4 ± 3.2	7.5 ± 3.6	U = 1021.0	0.102
	Week 2	5.3 ± 3.0	7.1 ± 3.4	U = 854.0	0.005
	Week 4	4.7 ± 2.7	6.8 ± 3.1	U = 722.0	< 0.001
Body image disturbance (BIS, 0-30)	Baseline	12.7 ± 4.3	13.1 ± 4.7	U = 1224.5	0.649
	Week 1	11.2 ± 4.1	12.8 ± 4.5	U = 1034.0	0.078
	Week 2	9.8 ± 3.9	12.3 ± 4.4	U = 876.0	0.003
	Week 4	8.7 ± 3.6	11.9 ± 4.2	U = 725.5	< 0.001
Coping strategy (Brief COPE, 14-56)	Baseline	38.5 ± 6.1	37.9 ± 6.4	t = 0.561	0.577
	Week 1	39.3 ± 6.2	37.6 ± 6.3	t = 1.390	0.169
	Week 2	41.5 ± 5.8	38.0 ± 6.1	t = 3.067	0.003
	Week 4	43.1 ± 5.7	38.4 ± 6.2	t = 4.114	< 0.001
Social support (PSSS, 12-84)	Baseline	59.4 ± 8.9	58.1 ± 9.5	t = 0.796	0.428
	Week 1	60.2 ± 9.1	58.3 ± 9.3	t = 1.007	0.316
	Week 2	63.5 ± 8.6	58.9 ± 9.2	t = 2.642	0.010
	Week 4	65.7 ± 8.3	59.2 ± 9.1	t = 3.584	< 0.001

¹Between-group comparisons were performed using: Mann-Whitney U test for non-normally distributed psychological scales (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety subscale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression subscale, Body Image Scale). Independent-sample t test for normally distributed scales (Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced, Perceived Social Support Scale).

²P value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

HADS-A: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety subscale; HADS-D: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression subscale; BIS: Body Image Scale; COPE: Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced; PSSS: Perceived Social Support Scale.