Efficacy of Acupuncture as a Treatment for Faecal Incontinence

Overall Aim: To improve the long-term management outcomes for faecal incontinence (FI); through the implementation of new alternative treatment to complement existing treatment options, and enable better utilization of limited healthcare resources. Primary Specific Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) acupuncture in the treatment of faecal incontinence. Secondary Aims: * To evaluate the safety profile of TCM acupuncture. * To explore the patient satisfaction and uptake of TCM acupuncture as an alternative management strategy for FI. * To evaluate improvements in health-related quality of life with TCM-acupuncture. * To explore the cost-effectiveness of TCM acupuncture. Hypothesis: Traditional Chinese Medicine therapy, in the form of acupuncture, is an effective treatment for faecal incontinence.