Electroacupuncture improves psychosocial outcomes in rectal cancer patients with bowel dysfunction

Table 4 Changes in quality of life in patients receiving electroacupuncture vs control care (n = 100), mean ± SD

Time point	Domain	Electroacupuncture group	Control group	t value	P value
Baseline	Global health status	56.3 ± 8.9	57.0 ± 9.1	0.44	0.664
	Emotional functioning	61.2 ± 10.3	60.4 ± 9.7	-0.38	0.702
	Social functioning	58.0 ± 11.2	57.4 ± 10.9	-0.24	0.813
Week 1	Global health status	63.4 ± 9.0a	58.2 ± 9.5	-2.49	0.015
	Emotional functioning	68.7 ± 9.5a	61.3 ± 9.6	-2.84	0.006
	Social functioning	65.2 ± 10.1a	58.6 ± 10.4	-2.72	0.009
Week 2	Global health status	68.1 ± 8.8a	60.0 ± 9.7	-4.17	< 0.001
	Emotional functioning	73.5 ± 8.4a	63.2 ± 9.2	-5.67	< 0.001
	Social functioning	71.4 ± 9.6a	61.1 ± 10.2	-5.02	< 0.001
Week 4	Global health status	72.3 ± 8.1a	62.5 ± 9.4	-5.66	< 0.001
	Emotional functioning	78.2 ± 7.9a	66.4 ± 8.7	-6.90	< 0.001
	Social functioning	76.1 ± 8.3a	64.2 ± 9.1	-6.73	< 0.001

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

Scores are based on the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (version 3.0) questionnaire and range from 0 to 100; higher scores indicate better function or quality of life. P values were calculated using the independent-sample t test.