Micturition Desire-Relaxation Training Device for Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction in Children

NCT ID: NCT07000656

Last Updated: 2025-06-05

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 200 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-11-20
• Study Completion Date: 2026-05-31

Brief Summary

Urine storage and voiding are fundamental physiological processes. In clinical settings, many cases of lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) are closely associated with abnormal conditioned reflexes formed in the central nervous system during the urine storage or voiding phases. Relaxation, as a core physiological and psychological state, has been shown to promote effective urine storage and facilitate smooth voiding. By repeatedly training individuals to establish a new conditioned reflex linking the sensation of urinary urgency with a state of relaxation, it may be possible to improve bladder storage capacity and voiding function. Based on this concept, the investigators have developed the world's first Micturition Desire-Relaxation Training Device (Chinese Patent No.: ZL 2020 1 0397789.4). This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of this device in treating LUTD in children.

Detailed Description

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of the Micturition Desire-Relaxation Training Device in managing LUTD in children over a six-month period. A stratified block randomization method will be used, matching participants based on sex, age, and enuresis frequency. Eligible participants will be stratified by sex and age, and then randomly assigned (1:1) to either the intervention group or the sham intervention group using a computer-generated sequence. This method ensures group balance regarding baseline characteristics and enuresis severity.

In the intervention group, baseline voiding diaries will be completed prior to initiating training. The first session will be supervised by trained medical personnel, during which participants and caregivers will receive standardized instruction in device usage and bladder relaxation techniques. Each session will last approximately 10 minutes and will be conducted 3-4 times during the initial instructional phase. The device will then be provided for home use at no cost. Caregivers will receive remote support from study physicians during the intervention period. Home-based training will include 5-10 sessions per day, each lasting 10 minutes. Daily records-including images of urine output, session duration, and any adverse events-will be uploaded to a secure cloud platform for physician review. The intervention will continue for 8 weeks. Monthly records of fluid intake and voiding behavior will be maintained throughout the study. Follow-up assessments, including voiding diaries and enuresis questionnaires, will be performed at 3 and 6 months post-intervention to assess recurrence and long-term outcomes.

The sham group will follow identical baseline and training schedules; however, the device will remain inactive during each session. After 4 weeks, participants in this group will submit fluid intake and voiding records.

Primary outcome measures include the enuresis improvement rate, frequency of daytime urinary incontinence, and total number of voiding episodes within 24 hours. Secondary outcomes will include: scores for the micturition desire-awakening function, timing of enuresis events, bedtime and wake time, standardized bladder capacity, bladder variability rate, behavioral responses during incontinence, psychological/behavioral characteristics, and enuresis recurrence.

Conditions

Daytime Urinary Incontinence; Urinary Frequency; Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction; Primary Nocturnal Enuresis

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Sham Intervention Group

This arm will enroll pediatric participants diagnosed with PNE, daytime urinary incontinence, or urinary frequency disorder according to the ICCS diagnostic criteria. Participants will follow the same baseline assessment protocol and stratified randomization based on sex, age, and enuresis frequency. They will undergo sham Micturition Desire-Relaxation Training, during which the device will remain inactive throughout each session. Training sessions will last approximately 10 minutes and be performed 5 to 10 times daily for a total of 4 weeks. A fluid intake and voiding diary will be submitted at the end of the sham training period. Participants will continue with follow-up assessments at 3 and 6 months post-intervention to evaluate natural symptom progression and recurrence, without further training.

Group Type: SHAM_COMPARATOR

Sham device

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Participants diagnosed with nocturnal enuresis, daytime urinary incontinence, and urinary frequency will be screened at Shanghai Children's Medical Center, and eligible patients will be recruited. Participants will be randomly assigned to the sham training group, in which they will wear the device without powering it on for 10 minutes each session, 5-10 times a day, for 4 weeks.

Micturition Desire-Relaxation Training

This study includes children diagnosed with PNE, daytime urinary incontinence, and urinary frequency disorder according to the ICCS diagnostic criteria. Participants in the intervention group will undergo Micturition Desire-Relaxation Training, with each session lasting approximately 10 minutes, performed 5 to 10 times per day over an 8-week period. Changes in clinical symptoms and any adverse events will be systematically documented at baseline, and at 1 and 2 months during the intervention, as well as at 3 and 6 months post-treatment. For participants who achieve complete remission, caregivers will be asked to maintain daily records of enuresis episodes at 3 and 6 months after treatment to monitor potential recurrence.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Micturition Desire-Relaxation Training Device

Intervention Type: DEVICE

The device was developed by Shanghai Children's Medical Center in collaboration with Shanghai University of Engineering Science. It plays relaxation videos through a VR device and monitors the subjects' brain waves in real time using electroencephalography to evaluate their relaxation levels. The relaxation material is adjusted accordingly, and urination is recorded after training. Urine is collected and analyzed with a flow meter, generating a diagnostic report.

Interventions

Micturition Desire-Relaxation Training Device

The device was developed by Shanghai Children's Medical Center in collaboration with Shanghai University of Engineering Science. It plays relaxation videos through a VR device and monitors the subjects' brain waves in real time using electroencephalography to evaluate their relaxation levels. The relaxation material is adjusted accordingly, and urination is recorded after training. Urine is collected and analyzed with a flow meter, generating a diagnostic report.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Sham device

Participants diagnosed with nocturnal enuresis, daytime urinary incontinence, and urinary frequency will be screened at Shanghai Children's Medical Center, and eligible patients will be recruited. Participants will be randomly assigned to the sham training group, in which they will wear the device without powering it on for 10 minutes each session, 5-10 times a day, for 4 weeks.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Diagnosis according to the ICCS criteria:

For nocturnal enuresis:

At least one episode of involuntary nighttime urination per month for more than 3 months.

No abnormalities in routine urinalysis. No period of bedwetting-free days lasting more than 6 months, except for organic diseases.

For daytime urinary incontinence:

At least one episode of intermittent urinary leakage during wakefulness per month for more than 3 months.

No anatomical or neurological causes of urinary incontinence.

For urinary frequency:

The child experiences only urinary frequency and urgency, occurring during the day and before sleep, with intervals ranging from a few minutes to 1 hour. Each urination involves a small volume, less than 50% of the estimated bladder capacity [EBC (mL) = 30 + (age × 30)], typically less than 30 mL, sometimes just a few drops, while total daily urine volume remains within normal limits. When the child is engaged in play or focused, the intervals between urination are extended, and urinary frequency symptoms disappear after falling asleep.

2. Age: 5 to 18 years (inclusive), regardless of gender.

3. Voluntary participation: The child and their guardian must voluntarily participate in the trial and sign the informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Exclude enuresis caused by urinary tract infections, pinworms, myelitis, spinal cord injuries, epilepsy, cerebral developmental disorders, diabetes, and other neurological, urinary, or endocrine diseases, as well as transient enuresis due to excessive activity, mental fatigue, or excessive fluid intake before bedtime.

2. Exclude conditions causing urinary frequency such as neurogenic bladder, urinary tract infections, urethral syndrome, hypercalciuria, or metabolic diseases.

3. Patients who have participated in or are currently participating in other clinical trials within the past month.

4. Patients deemed unsuitable for participation in the clinical trial by the investigator.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 5 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Shanghai Children's Medical Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Locations

Micturition Desire-Relaxation Training

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

China

Central Contacts

jun ma

Role: CONTACT

majun@shsmu.edu.cn

13917230745

Facility Contacts

Jun Ma

Role: primary

majun@shsmu.edu.cn

15880030598

References

Bergmann M, Corigliano T, Ataia I, Renella R, Simonetti GD, Bianchetti MG, von Vigier RO. Childhood extraordinary daytime urinary frequency-a case series and a systematic literature review. Pediatr Nephrol. 2009 Apr;24(4):789-95. doi: 10.1007/s00467-008-1082-9. Epub 2008 Dec 18.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 19093136 (View on PubMed)

Austin PF, Bauer SB, Bower W, Chase J, Franco I, Hoebeke P, Rittig S, Vande Walle J, von Gontard A, Wright A, Yang SS, Neveus T. The standardization of terminology of lower urinary tract function in children and adolescents: update report from the Standardization Committee of the International Children's Continence Society. J Urol. 2014 Jun;191(6):1863-1865.e13. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2014.01.110. Epub 2014 Feb 4.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 24508614 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

MR-31-24-03

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id