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CTRI Number  CTRI/2022/04/041659 [Registered on: 05/04/2022] Trial Registered Prospectively
Last Modified On: 18/07/2023
Post Graduate Thesis  Yes 
Type of Trial  Interventional 
Type of Study   Homeopathy 
Study Design  Randomized, Parallel Group, Placebo Controlled Trial 
Public Title of Study   Homoeopathic treatment of irregular menses 
Scientific Title of Study   Repertorial approach of treating menstrual irregularities with individualized homoeopathic medicines in early reproductive age group: A Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled efficacy trial 
Trial Acronym   
Secondary IDs if Any  
Secondary ID  Identifier 
U1111-1276-3989  UTN 
 
Details of Principal Investigator or overall Trial Coordinator (multi-center study)  
Name  Usashi Nag 
Designation  Postgraduate Trainee 
Affiliation  D N De Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital 
Address  Department of Repertory, PG 3 OPD, 12, Gobinda Khatick Road, Tangra

Kolkata
WEST BENGAL
700046
India 
Phone  8250807906  
Fax    
Email  usashinag96@gmail.com  
 
Details of Contact Person
Scientific Query
 
Name  Prof Dr Rajat Kumar Pal 
Designation  Professor and Head 
Affiliation  D N De Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital 
Address  Department of Repertory, PG 3 OPD,12, Gobinda Khatick Road, Tangra

Kolkata
WEST BENGAL
700046
India 
Phone  9433130996  
Fax    
Email  drrajatkumarpal@gmail.com  
 
Details of Contact Person
Public Query
 
Name  Prof Dr Rajat Kumar Pal 
Designation  Professor and Head 
Affiliation  D N De Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital 
Address  Department of Repertory, PG 3 OPD,12, Gobinda Khatick Road, Tangra

Kolkata
WEST BENGAL
700046
India 
Phone  9433130996  
Fax    
Email  drrajatkumarpal@gmail.com  
 
Source of Monetary or Material Support  
D N De Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, 12, Gobinda Khatick Road, Tangra, Kolkata 700046, West Bengal 
 
Primary Sponsor  
Name  D N De Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital 
Address  12, Gobinda Khatick Road, Tangra, Kolkata 700046, West Bengal 
Type of Sponsor  Government medical college 
 
Details of Secondary Sponsor  
Name  Address 
Nil  NA 
 
Countries of Recruitment     India  
Sites of Study  
No of Sites = 1  
Name of Principal Investigator  Name of Site  Site Address  Phone/Fax/Email 
Usashi Nag  D N De Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital  Department of Repertory, PG 3 OPD, 12, Gobinda Khatick Road, Tangra, Kolkata 700046
Kolkata
WEST BENGAL 
8250807906

usashinag96@gmail.com 
 
Details of Ethics Committee  
No of Ethics Committees= 1  
Name of Committee  Approval Status 
Institutional Ethical Committee of D. N. De Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital  Approved 
 
Regulatory Clearance Status from DCGI  
Status 
Not Applicable 
 
Health Condition / Problems Studied  
Health Type  Condition 
Patients  (1) ICD-10 Condition: N926||Irregular menstruation, unspecified,  
 
Intervention / Comparator Agent  
Type  Name  Details 
Comparator Agent  Identical-looking placebos  This arm will receive placebo, identical in appearance with the verum. Each dose of placebo shall consist of 4 globules (no. 40) of cane sugar moistened with rectified spirit, to be taken orally on clean tongue with empty stomach; dosage and repetition depending upon the individual requirement of the cases. Duration of therapy: 4 months. Both medicines and placebos will be re-packed in identical glass bottles and labelled with code, name of medicine, potency, and will be dispensed according to the random number list. Patients will be advised to refrain from handling the globules or from eating, drinking, smoking or brushing teeth within 30 minutes of taking the globules and will be asked to suck the globules rather than simply swallowing those. Duration of therapy: 4 months.  
Intervention  Indicated homoeopathic medicines in centesimal potencies  Intervention is planned as administering indicated homoeopathic medicines in centesimal potencies. Each dose will consist of 4 globules (no. 40) of cane sugar, medicated with the indicated medicine (preserved in 90% v/v ethanol) to be taken orally on clean tongue with empty stomach; dosage and repetition depending upon the individual requirement of the cases. Patients will be advised to refrain from handling the globules or from eating, drinking, smoking or brushing teeth within 30 minutes of taking the globules and will be asked to suck the globules rather than simply swallowing those. Single individualized medicine will be prescribed on each occasion taking into account presenting symptom totality, clinical history details,constitutional features, miasmatic expressions, repertorisation using HOMPATH and RADAR software when required with due consultation of Materia Medica and due consensus among three homoeopaths. All the medicines and sundry items will be procured from a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-certified firm. Duration of therapy: 4 months. 
 
Inclusion Criteria  
Age From  11.00 Year(s)
Age To  25.00 Year(s)
Gender  Female 
Details  1. Patients suffering from menstrual irregularities (ICD 10: N92.6)
2. Differential diagnosis established by USG and other laboratory investigations as appropriate.
3. Age: 11-25 years.
4. Patients taking oral contraceptive pills will be considered for the study after giving a wash-out period of 1 month.
5. Literate patients, who can read and write in Bengali, and/or English.
6. Patients giving written informed consent to participate in the study 
 
ExclusionCriteria 
Details  1. Patients suffering from carcinoma of cervix, chronic tubo-ovarian mass, endometrial carcinoma, genital tuberculosis.
2. Vulnerable population – unconscious, ambulatory, too sick for consultation, differently abled, terminally or critically ill patients, mentally incompetent people.
3. Diagnosed cases of unstable mental or psychiatric illness or other uncontrolled
or life- threatening illness affecting quality of life or any organ failure.
4. Blood haemoglobin level less than 7g/dl.
5. Participants with habits of tobacco chewing and/or smoking, alcoholism and/or any other
form(s) of substance abuse and/or dependence.
6. Self-reported immune-compromised state.
7. Undergoing homeopathic treatment for any chronic disease within last 6 months. 
 
Method of Generating Random Sequence   Permuted block randomization, variable 
Method of Concealment   Pre-numbered or coded identical Containers 
Blinding/Masking   Participant, Investigator, Outcome Assessor and Date-entry Operator Blinded 
Primary Outcome  
Outcome  TimePoints 
The proportion of participants between groups in whom menstrual irregularities can be corrected  Baseline, after each menstrual cycle, up to 4 cycles 
 
Secondary Outcome  
Outcome  TimePoints 
Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ) score  Baseline, and after each menstrual cycle, up to 4 cycles 
 
Target Sample Size   Total Sample Size="92"
Sample Size from India="92" 
Final Enrollment numbers achieved (Total)= "92"
Final Enrollment numbers achieved (India)="92" 
Phase of Trial   Phase 2/ Phase 3 
Date of First Enrollment (India)   11/04/2022 
Date of Study Completion (India) 13/06/2023 
Date of First Enrollment (Global)  Date Missing 
Date of Study Completion (Global) Date Missing 
Estimated Duration of Trial   Years="1"
Months="6"
Days="0" 
Recruitment Status of Trial (Global)
Modification(s)  
Not Applicable 
Recruitment Status of Trial (India)  Completed 
Publication Details   Not yet, to be published 
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement

Will individual participant data (IPD) be shared publicly (including data dictionaries)?  

Response - YES
  1. What data in particular will be shared?
    Response - Individual participant data that underlie the results reported in this article, after de-identification (text, tables, figures, and appendices).

  2. What additional supporting information will be shared?
    Response -  Study Protocol
    Response -  Statistical Analysis Plan

  3. Who will be able to view these files?
    Response - Researchers whose proposed use of the data has been approved by an independent review committee identified for this purpose.

  4. For what types of analyses will this data be available?
    Response - Any purpose.

  5. By what mechanism will data be made available?
    Response - Proposals should be directed to [usashinag96@gmail.com].

  6. For how long will this data be available start date provided 01-01-2024 and end date provided 31-12-2028?
    Response - Beginning 3 months and ending 5 years following article publication.

  7. Any URL or additional information regarding plan/policy for sharing IPD? 
    Additional Information - Nil
Brief Summary
Modification(s)  

Prevalence of irregular menstrual cycle ranges from 81.7 to 96.3% and absenteeism from school due to menstrual discomfort ranges from 80.6 to 63.5%. Recent research suggested that homoeopathy is one of the most popular choices for women with various gynaecological disorders. This trial was aimed at differentiating individualized homoeopathic medicines (IHMs) from identical-looking placebos in the treatment of menstrual irregularities in women of the early reproductive age group. A four-month, double-blind, randomized (1:1), placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 92 females with menstrual irregularities at D. N. De Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital. Participants were randomized into either verum (IHMs, n = 46) or control (placebos; n = 46). The primary outcome measure was the proportion of participants between groups in whom menstrual irregularities could be corrected. The secondary outcome was MDQ (Menstrual Distress Questionnaire) and its subscales. All the outcomes were measured at monthly intervals of up to 4 months. Group differences were estimated on the intention-to-treat sample. After 4 months of intervention, the group difference in the primary outcome was non-significant statistically (P = 0.835). The improvement observed in the MDQ total score and subscales scores were higher in the IHMs group than in placebos, however, statistically non-significant in most of the occasions, except for the behavioural change subscale (P < 0.001). Pulsatilla nigricans was the most frequently prescribed medicine. Kent’s Repertory and Complete were the most frequently used repertories. Overall the result remains inconclusive – the analysis fails to demonstrate clearly that IHMs were effective beyond placebos in most of the outcomes. More appropriate outcome measures should be sought for future trials.

 
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