Electroacupuncture improves psychosocial outcomes in rectal cancer patients with bowel dysfunction

Table 3 Changes in low anterior resection syndrome scores over time in patients receiving electroacupuncture vs control care (n = 100), mean ± SD

Time point	Electroacupuncture group (n = 50)	Control group (n = 50)	Test statistic (t)	P value
Baseline	32.4 ± 5.6	31.9 ± 5.9	0.43	0.672
Week 1 after treatment	27.5 ± 5.2a	30.8 ± 5.5	2.44	0.018
Week 2 after treatment	23.9 ± 5.3a	29.7 ± 5.4	5.19	< 0.001
Week 4 after treatment	20.6 ± 5.1a	27.8 ± 5.7	6.79	< 0.001

^aP < 0.05 vs pretreatment and between groups (electroacupuncture vs control).

Test statistics calculated using the independent-sample t test. Lower scores indicate better bowel function.