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| RESEARCH PROTOCOL |
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| Year : 2019 | Volume
: 13
| Issue : 2 | Page : 118-124 |
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Protocol for efficacy of individualised homoeopathic medicine in cases of wrist ganglion: A prospective, parallel arm, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy
Clinical Research Unit for Homoeopathy, Gokhel Road, West Bengal, India
| Date of Submission | 10-Jan-2018 |
| Date of Acceptance | 20-May-2019 |
| Date of Web Publication | 27-Jun-2019 |
Correspondence Address:
Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy
Clinical Research Unit for Homoeopathy, Gokhel Road, Arabindopally, Siliguri - 734 006, West Bengal
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ijrh.ijrh_3_18
Background and Objectives: Wrist ganglia are benign soft-tissue tumours of controversial pathogenesis. Most of them are asymptomatic besides swelling but may be associated with pain, interference with activities and an increase in size. Non-surgical management options are not much effective, and surgical excision may invite complications as well as longer recovery period. Homoeopathic treatment remains a very effective measure, but the documentation of it is not adequate. This protocol is designed to evaluate the effect of individualised homoeopathic medicines in cases of wrist ganglion. Materials and Methods: The study will be a prospective, parallel arm, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Participants (n = 154) will be allocated to individualised homoeopathic medicine group or placebo group by block randomisation. Enrolment will be done for 6 months, and every enrolled participant will be followed up for 8 months. Primary outcome measure will be changes in ganglion size at 8th month. Secondary outcome measures will be changes in pain visual analog scale score and patient-rated wrist evaluation score at every month till 8th month. Discussion: The study may help in generating evidences which may be helpful to validate the effectiveness of individualised homoeopathic medicine in the wrist ganglion.
Keywords: Individualised Homoeopathy, Randomised placebo-controlled trial, Research protocol, Wrist ganglion
How to cite this article:
Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy. Protocol for efficacy of individualised homoeopathic medicine in cases of wrist ganglion: A prospective, parallel arm, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Indian J Res Homoeopathy 2019;13:118-24 |
How to cite this URL:
Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy. Protocol for efficacy of individualised homoeopathic medicine in cases of wrist ganglion: A prospective, parallel arm, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Indian J Res Homoeopathy [serial online] 2019 [cited 2023 Apr 2];13:118-24. Available from: https://www.ijrh.org/text.asp?2019/13/2/118/261635 |
| Introduction | |  |
Ganglion (M 67.4 as per ICD-10) is benign soft-tissue tumour of joint or tendon (sheath), most commonly encountered in the wrist, but may occur in any joint.[1] Sixty per cent to 70% of ganglia are found in dorsal aspect of the wrist.[2] The pathogenesis of ganglion remains controversial even today,[3],[4] though a history of trauma is elicited in at least 10% of cases and is considered as a causative factor.[1] It can affect any age group but more common in 20s to 40s.[1] Incidence in males and females is 25 and 43 per 1,00,000, respectively. Prevalence is 19% in patients reporting wrist pain and 51% in the asymptomatic population.[5] The clinical presentation is usually adequate for diagnosis, except in the cases of 'occult wrist ganglion', where MRI and ultrasound are needed to make a diagnosis.[6]
Most of the ganglia are asymptomatic besides swelling. In many studies, it was revealed that majority of patients sought advice and treatment because of the cosmetic reason or they were concerned that the growth was malignant.[6] Patients usually seek treatment when it is associated with pain, weakness, interference with activities and an increase in size.[7] Conventionally, there are three general treatment approaches: observation, aspiration and surgical excision.[8] The non-surgical management options are not much effective, and surgical excision has higher rates of complications and longer recovery period.[2]
Patients usually opt for homoeopathic treatment either directly or due to the fear of surgical interventions when being advised for surgery. Traditionally, homoeopathic treatment remains a very effective measure for managing the cases of wrist ganglion, but the documentation of such success stories is not adequate.
To explore the relevant publications regarding treatment of wrist ganglion by homoeopathic medicines, electronic databases such as MEDLINE,[9] PubMed,[10] CORE-Hom database[11] and AYUSH Research Portal[12] were searched with the key words 'ganglion', 'wrist', 'treatment' and 'Homoeopathy'. However, no such publication was found in those electronic databases.
After considering all the available information, it was perceived that documentation of the effect of homoeopathic treatment in cases of wrist ganglion is needed, and a randomised placebo-controlled trial (RCT) is necessary to validate the effectiveness of individualised homoeopathic medicines in wrist ganglion. To serve this purpose, a prospective, parallel arm, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial will be conducted to find whether there is any statistically significant difference between the outcome of treatment of wrist ganglion by individualised homoeopathic medicine and placebo.
In this RCT, 'placebo' will be used for the comparator group. In different studies, it was seen that the spontaneous resolution rate of untreated ganglion ranged between 42% and 58% within a time period of 3–10 years.[13],[14] Hence, placebo can be safely used as a comparator, and to minimise the chance of spontaneous resolution, the study duration will be of 8 months only.
This study protocol has been prepared in compliance with Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) guidelines[15] and NIH-FDA Clinical Trial Protocol.[16] The clinical trial will be conducted in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki[17] and Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical Research on Human Participants by ICMR.[18]
| Study Hypothesis | | |
Null hypothesis (H0) = There is no statistically significant difference between the outcome of treatment of wrist ganglion by individualised homoeopathic medicine and placebo.
Alternative hypothesis (HA) = There is a statistically significant difference between the outcome of treatment of wrist ganglion by individualised homoeopathic medicine and placebo.
| Study Objectives | | |
Primary objective of the study is to evaluate the changes in size of wrist ganglion after completion of 8-month follow-up, both clinically (by measuring scale) and by ultrasonography (USG). Secondary objectives are to evaluate the changes in pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score[19] and changes in patient-rated wrist evaluation (PRWE) score[20] every month from the baseline till 8th-month follow-up.
| Trial Design | | |
Study duration
Enrolment will be done for 6 months, and every enrolled participant will be followed up for 8 months. Two months will be required for data compilation, data analysis and manuscript writing.
End of the study definition
A participant will be considered to have completed the study when he/she will complete the follow-up of 8 months and will undergo the final required investigation. End of study shall be considered when last participants' 8th-month follow-up including the required investigation gets completed.
Study Setting
This study is proposed to be conducted at 'Research OPD' of 'Clinical Research Unit for Homoeopathy, Siliguri' under Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy.
| Trial Registration | | |
The trial has been registered in 'Clinical Trial Registry-India (CTRI)' no. (CTRI/2018/09/015797, registered on 20th September, 2018).
| Eligibility Criteria | | |
Inclusion criteria
Patients of either gender who are aged 18 years or above and having wrist ganglion (diagnosed clinically and by USG) for the duration of 3 months or less will be included in the study provided they are willing to give informed consent to participate in the study. Patients must not be under any kind of treatment for wrist ganglion at least for last 1 month, in such cases washout period will be allowed for 1 month from the last date of intake of previous medicine.
Exclusion criteria
Patients who are unwilling to give informed consent and/or immunocompromised and/or suffering from critical illness and/or severely drug/alcohol addicted will be excluded from the study.
| Intervention | | |
Intervention for each group [Figure 1]
Participants who are assigned to 'Active Intervention' group will be given individualised homoeopathic medicine. Selection, potency, dose and repetition of medicine will be as per homoeopathic principles. 'Control intervention' group will receive placebo which will be indistinguishable in appearance from the medicine.
Follow-up action
After the first prescription, participants will be evaluated by clinical assessment, VAS score and PRWE score at every follow-up. Response to the first prescription (no changes, aggravation or amelioration) will be assessed, and further treatment will be continued as per standard homoeopathic guidelines.[21]
Criteria for discontinuation/modification of allocated intervention
Patients developing extensive pain/distress during the period of study, serious adverse drug events, non-compliance to intervention, unwilling to participate further or with any other issue as per the discretion of investigator shall be withdrawn from the study.
Intervention adherence
All the participants will be motivated to adhere to the instructions provided by the investigator. They will be also motivated to undergo investigations as per the direction of the investigator.
Lost to follow-up
A participant will be considered as 'lost to follow-up' if he/she fails to return for two consecutive scheduled visits and is unable to be contacted by the study site investigator.
The study investigator will attempt to contact the participant and reschedule the missed visit. Before a participant is declared as 'lost to follow-up', the investigator will make every effort to regain contact with the participant (where possible, by three telephone calls), and if the participant continues to be unreachable, he/she will be considered to have withdrawn from the study with a primary reason of lost to follow-up.
Concomitant care
Any kind of co-intervention (such as any other medicine, aspiration or surgical intervention) and concomitant care (like physiotherapy) during the study that may affect trial outcomes is to be strictly prohibited.
| Outcomes | | |
Primary outcome measures
Primary outcome measure will be change in size of wrist ganglion which will be measured using measuring scale in three dimensions (length, breadth and height) and also by USG at the end of 8th month follow-up.
Secondary outcome measures
Secondary outcome measures will be change in VAS score and PRWE score which will be determined at every month from the baseline till the end of 8th month follow-up.
| Sample Size | | |
The sample size calculation was based on the primary objective/outcome of the study as well as on the statistical test used for it.
G*Power 3[22] statistical software was used for this purpose, and the following data were provided in it: statistical test for primary outcome will be two-tailed unpaired t-test; effect size was 0.5 (as no such study conducted in past; moderate effect size has been taken); α was 0.05; Power [P] = (1-β) was 0.8 and allocation ratio was 1:1. Calculated sample size was 128 (64 participants in each group). Anticipating dropout rate of 20%, the final sample size was 154 (77 participants in each group).
| Recruitment | | |
Strategies
Patients will be recruited from general outpatient department at the study site. Definite strategies will be adopted for achieving adequate participant enrolment to reach the target sample size. Advertisement about this research project may be done by display of banners containing specific date, place and eligibility criteria to increase awareness about the project.
Non-achievement of sample size at the centre
In case of non-achievement of sample size in the study period, there will be an option for extension of the study for further limited period after due approval of SAB of the Council. If the study centre fails to achieve the sample size or not complying with the protocol, the study will be discontinued.
| Allocation | | |
Method of generation of allocation sequence
Allocation sequence will be generated in 1:1 allocation ratio by block randomisation technique with the aid of a computerised random number generator.
Allocation concealment
Allocation sequence of the participants will be concealed until the 8th-month follow-up of all the participants will be completed and the database has been locked. The sealed randomisation list will be stored by the principal investigator (PI).
Allocation implementation
Randomisation, blinding and allocation sequence generation will be done by PI. Enrolment of the participants will be done by the investigators at the study site
| Blinding (Masking) | | |
The study will be a double-blind study, where the trial participants (patients) and the care providers (treating physician/investigator) at the study site will be kept blinded about the allocation of participants in the treatment and placebo groups.
Emergency unblinding may be done only in exceptional circumstances when knowledge of the actual treatment provided is very much essential for further management.
| Data Collection Procedure | | |
Screening will be done using pre-designed 'Screening Form'. Eligible patients will be provided 'Participant Information Sheet' (in local language) detailing about the study protocol, risks and benefits of participation. Voluntary 'Written Informed Consent' will be taken from the patient before he/she is enrolled in the study. Pre-designed 'Case Recording Format' (CRF) will be used for baseline assessment. Pharmacist will dispense the prescribed medicine/placebo to the patient as per the randomisation chart. Patients will be followed up every month for the period of 8 months as per 'Follow-up Sheets'. Any adverse events (AEs) must be recorded in 'Adverse event recording pro forma'. At the end of 8th-month follow-up, the investigator at the study site will fill up the 'Case-off study form' with detailed information regarding relevant events of each case in chronological order.
| Data Management | | |
Pre-designed 'CRF' and 'Follow-up Sheets' will be used for collection of data in hard format which will be transferred to a pre-designed spread sheet. Study site will remain responsible for storage and security of all data as well as for the completeness and accuracy of the study records. Participant files will be maintained in storage for a period of 5 years after the publication of the study report.
| Statistical Methods | | |
Appropriate statistical methods will be utilised for analysis of primary and secondary outcomes as per 'intention-to-treat' approach. Statistical software (e.g., SPSS, IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, 2017; Version 25.0. Armonk, NY, IBM Corp.) may be used for statistical analysis. 'Non-parametric tests' will be used for categorical (nominal/ordinal) data, and 'parametric tests' will be used for quantitative (continuous/discrete) data.
| Monitoring | | |
This study will be monitored regularly by PI at the study site.
| Recording of Adverse Events | | |
'Any untoward medical occurrence in a subject without regard to the possibility of a causal relationship' will be recorded as an 'AE' and will be managed by the study investigator either by homoeopathic treatment or by referring to an appropriate facility.
'Any untoward medical occurrence that is believed by the investigators to be causally related to the study drug and results in any of the following: life-threatening condition (that is, immediate risk of death), severe or permanent disability, prolonged hospitalisation or a significant hazard as determined by the data safety monitoring board' will be considered as 'Serious Adverse Events' and in such cases, relation of an event to the study drug based on a temporal relationship to the study drug, as well as whether the event is unexpected or unexplained given the patient's clinical course, previous medical conditions and concomitant medications will be investigated.
| Auditing | | |
Auditing will be conducted by the PI at the study site on monthly basis. It will involve periodic independent review of participant enrolment, consent, eligibility, allocation to two groups, adherence to trial interventions, completeness and accuracy of data collection. It will also be reviewed that whether the study is conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical Research on Human Participants by ICMR.
| Ethical Considerations | | |
The study protocol is in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki[17] and Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical Research on Human Participants by ICMR.[18] Necessary ethical approval has been obtained from the 'Institutional ethics Committee' of the study site on 4th August 2018.
| Protocol Amendments | | |
Any significant changes required to be done in study objectives, study design, sample size or study procedures have to be approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of the study site. Minor administrative or technical amendments which do not affect the way of study, may be done after agreement of all those concerned.
Consent
The investigators of the study site will introduce the study procedure to the participants. Every participant will receive the 'Participant Information Sheet'. The investigator will obtain 'written consent' from the patients willing to participate in the trial.
Confidentiality
All information collected in this study will be kept strictly confidential. The privacy and confidentiality will be honoured, and identifying information pertaining to any patient shall be coded and not disclosed at the time of publication/presentation of the study results.
| Statement of Compliance | | |
The study will be reported as per 'Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials'[23] guidelines and its supplement 'Reporting data on homoeopathic treatments (RedHot)'.[24]
| Access to Data | | |
The complete final database will be accessed by the PI.
| Post-Study Care | | |
The patients will be followed up even after completion of the study period if required.
| Publication and Authorship Policy | | |
Council will reserve the authority to publish original articles based on the primary and secondary outcomes emerging from the study. The names of the contributors who have made substantial intellectual contributions in the study will be considered for authorship of manuscript as per guidelines provided by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors.[25]
Acknowledgement
The authors deeply acknowledge Dr. Anil Khurana, DDG (CCRH), Dr. Praveen Oberai, RO(H), S-4, Dr. V. Roja, RO (H)/S-2, Dr. Kalpana Gautam, SRF(H), CCRH for technical support.
Contributors
Scientific Advisor: Raj K. Manchanda(1), Anil Khurana(2)
Study Concept & Design: J. S. Arya(3), Amitava Poddar(4)
Protocol Drafting: Gurudev Choubey(5), Abhiram Banerjee(6), Anuj Mishra(7)
Drafting of Manuscript: Abhiram Banerjee
Review of Manuscript: J. S. Arya, Gurudev Choubey
(1). Director General, CCRH
(2). Deputy Director General, CCRH
(3). Research Officer (H)/ Scientist – 4, CCRH
(4). Ex. Research Officer (H)/ Scientist – 4, CCRH
(5). Research Officer (H)/ Scientist – 2, CCRH
(6). Research Associate (H), CCRH
(7). Ex. Research Associate (H), CCRH
Financial support and sponsorship
The study was funded by Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India.
Conflicts of interest
None declared.
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