Comparison of a Chinese Herbal Medicine (CCH1) and Lactulose as First-Line Treatment of Constipation in Long-Term Care: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Double-Dummy, and Placebo-Controlled Trial

Table 6

Global assessment of efficacy.^∗,†

Variables	Group, number (%)		𝑃 Value
	CCH1 (𝑛=39)	Lactulose (𝑛=34)
Marked improved	21 (53.8)	18 (52.9)	0.646
Slightly improved	12 (30.8)	9 (26.5)
Unchanged	5 (12.8)	7 (20.6)
Slightly worse	1 (2.6)	0 (0)
Markedly worse	0 (0)	0 (0)

*The global assessment of efficacy was evaluated at the end of treatment phase by patients themselves or their principal caregivers if their cognition was impaired.
^†A total of 20 patients dropped out of the trial during the treatment phase.