Efficacy of physiotherapy in post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence

ISRCTN ISRCTN48761809
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN48761809
Secondary identifying numbers 2016
Submission date
11/01/2017
Registration date
13/01/2017
Last edited
18/01/2017
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Surgery
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
A radical prostatectomy is an operation to remove the prostate gland in order to remove prostate cancer. The most common side effects of the operation are unintentional passing of urine (urinary incontinence) and problems with getting and keeping an erection (erectile dysfunction). This greatly reduces the patient’s quality of life. The aim of this study is to test a physiotherapy program for urinary incontinence three months after radical prostatectomy.

Who can participate?
Men aged over 18 who have undergone a radical prostatectomy and are experiencing incontinence and erectile dysfunction

What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. One group is treated with biofeedback pelvic floor training, a type of physical therapy that trains the brain and pelvic muscles to work together to tighten and relax the pelvic floor muscles. An anal electrode is used to record the activity of the pelvic floor muscles for 30 minutes. The patients also receive electrical stimulation for 15 minutes. The treatment lasts 45 minutes per day, 3 days per week. At home, patients also train their pelvic muscles through Kegel exercises throughout the day. The other group is treated according to the usual clinical practice, and an information sheet with Kegel exercises is provided after the operation. Both groups are assessed for incontinence, erectile dysfunction and quality of life at the start of the study and after 1 month, 2 months, 3 months (end of treatment), 6 months and 12 months.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The study will show whether physiotherapy can be used to treat urinary incontinence after prostatectomy. There is currently no standard treatment for this. Participants may benefit from an improvement in their urinary incontinence symptoms. The physiotherapy has no adverse effects. Sometimes it can cause discomfort due to the electrode being in the wrong position, but it can be fixed by adjusting the position of the electrode.

Where is the study run from?
Clínica Mercedes Soto (Spain)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2015 to December 2018

Who is funding the study?
Investigator initiated and funded

Who is the main contact?
Dr Mercedes Soto-González
m.soto@uvigo.es

Contact information

Dr Mercedes Soto-González
Public

Facultad de Fisioterapia
Campus A Xunqueira s/n
Pontevedra
36005
Spain

Phone +34 (0)986 801 750
Email m.soto@uvigo.es

Study information

Study designInterventional single-centre randomized controlled clinical trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet ISRCTN48761809_PIS_12Jan17.pdf
Scientific titleEffectiveness of a physiotherapy program in the treatment of urinary incontinence post-prostatectomy: a randomized controlled trial
Study objectivesThe physical therapy program will improve the urinary incontinence in post-prostatectomy patients in three months.
Ethics approval(s)Pontevedra-Vigo-Ourense Research Ethics Committee of the Health Department, 05/11/2014, ref: 2014/351
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedPost-prostatectomy urinary incontinence
InterventionParticipants are assigned to the control group or intervention group through simple randomization. Doctors, patients and evaluators will not be blinded.

1. Intervention: Biofeedback is used for the pelvic floor training. An anal electrode records the activity of the pelvic floor muscles (30 minutes). Besides, the patients receive electrostimulation during 15 minutes. The treatment (biofeedback + electrostimulation) is 45 minutes per day (3 days per week). At home, patients train their pelvic muscles through Kegel exercises throughout the day.
2. Control: usual clinical practice. An information sheet with Kegel exercises is provided after the operation.

Patients are assessed at baseline, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months (end of treatment), 6 months and 12 months.
Intervention typeProcedure/Surgery
Primary outcome measureLoss of urine, measured using the 24 h Pad test and 1 h Pad test, at baseline, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months (end of treatment), 6 months and 12 months
Secondary outcome measures1. Quality of life and incontinence, measured using the ICIQ-SF questionnaire at baseline, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months (end of treatment), 6 months and 12 months
2. Erectile dysfunction, measured using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) at baseline, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months (end of treatment), 6 months and 12 months
3. Life habits, measured using a urinary diary at baseline, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months (end of treatment), 6 months and 12 months
Overall study start date01/01/2015
Completion date31/12/2018

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexMale
Target number of participants134 patients (67 patients in each group)
Key inclusion criteria1. Male patients intervened with radical prostatectomy
2. Incontinence (any loss of urine)
3. Erectile dysfunction, defined as a score under 21 in the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5)
4. Over 18 years old
Key exclusion criteria1. Patients with neurological pathology (advanced Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis and disease with deterioration of cognitive or sensitive capacities or that course with muscle weakness)
2. Patients with serious disease processes such cancer, severe epoc, severe pulmonary hypertension
3. Patients with a pacemaker
4. Patients taking muscle relaxing medication
5. Patients with incotinence or erectile dysfunction with a score under 7 in the questionnaire IIEF-5 previous to the intervention
Date of first enrolment15/02/2015
Date of final enrolment31/12/2017

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Spain

Study participating centre

Clínica Mercedes Soto
Emilia Pardo Bazán 29 Bajo
Vigo
36204
Spain

Sponsor information

University of Vigo
University/education

Campus Lagoas Marcosende
Vigo
36310.
Spain

Phone +34 (0)986 812 000
Email m.soto@uvigo.es
Website www.uvigo.es
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/05rdf8595

Funders

Funder type

Other

Investigator initiated and funded

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date31/12/2019
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in a high-impact peer reviewed journal
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are/will be available upon request from Dr Mercedes Soto-González (m.soto@uvigo.es)

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Participant information sheet 12/01/2017 18/01/2017 No Yes

Additional files

ISRCTN48761809_PIS_12Jan17.pdf
Uploaded 18/01/2017

Editorial Notes

18/01/2017: Participant information sheet added.