Electroacupuncture as a Treatment for Refractory Overactive Bladder

This study is a single-site feasibility randomised controlled trial evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of electroacupuncture (EA), percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS), and sham electroacupuncture in women with refractory overactive bladder (OAB) who have not achieved satisfactory improvement following standard pelvic health physiotherapy.

The primary aim is to determine whether a larger definitive trial is feasible by assessing recruitment, consent, retention, treatment adherence, data completeness, intervention delivery, blinding credibility, safety, and participant acceptability.

Thirty-six participants will be randomly allocated to receive electroacupuncture, PTNS, or sham electroacupuncture over a 12-week treatment period. Outcome assessments will be completed at baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months.

The findings will inform the design of a future definitive randomised controlled trial and contribute to the evidence base for non-pharmacological treatment options for overactive bladder.