Publication: Knowledge and Acceptance of Post Stroke and Chronic Pain Patients Towards Traditional and Complementary Medicine Services (Acupuncture and Traditional Massage) in Selayang Hospital
Date
2022-08
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Medical University
Abstract
Background
Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM) services have already started since the year of 2007
in Malaysia. Despite this, the services offered are very limit ed to select ed Ministry of Health
(MOH) hospitals and there are no T&CM services provided in Selangor stat e. Therefore, Selayang
Hospital (HSEL) has taken the initiative to propose and start the first T&CM service in Selangor state,
namely Acupuncture and Traditional Massage. However, prior to starting T&CM service, a survey
study is needed to see the knowledge and acceptance of this service among patients (post stroke and
chronic pain) treated at HSEL.
Objective
To determine the level of knowledge and acceptance of Acupuncture and Traditional Massage by post
stroke and chronic pain patients who can benefit from Acupuncture and/ or Traditional Massage
services in HSEL.
Methodology
This is a prospective cross sectional study of questionnaires distributed via QR code to access a Google
Form. Once the study has been approved by the IMU Joint Committee, MREC and the hospital director,
a pilot study was conducted by having 30 participants answer the questionnaires for validation.
After the questionnaires have been validated by using content validity and Cronbach's Alpha
test, the questionnaires were distributed to a total of 376 numbers of patients. Explanation regarding
the study was given to the target population prior to consent. Subsequently, the questions were
given to the consented participants to answer. About 20 minutes was required to complete the survey.
The data was analyzed using SPSS software.
Results
There are only 46.5% of the respondents that achieved good general knowledge of T&CM, while 49.2%
achieved good specific knowledge on T&CM service in MOH hospitals. 92 % of the respondents have a
good attitude towards T&CM service to be set up at HSEL. A total of 81.9% of the respondents are
willing to accept T&CM service if it is established at HSEL. Age, employment status, annual income, and
treatment modality have a significant difference in general knowledge (p<0.05). There is no
significant difference between demographic and specific knowledge (p>0.05). Only age group and
treatment modality have significant difference with attitude (p<0.05). Duration of illness and
treatment modality with acceptance toward T&CM service have significant difference (p<0.05).
Distance from home to HSEL, annual income, duration of illness and treatment modality have
significant difference (p<0.05) when compared with experience of respondents to T&CM service.
Conclusion
Post stroke and chronic pain patients in Selayang Hospital have a fair but limited knowledge on the MOH
and modern medicine's standpoint towards T&CM and have limit ed awareness that there are T&CM
services offered under MOH hospitals. However, they have good acceptance towards T&CM services
being offered by MOH. Efforts to promote knowledge and awareness in this aspect would
greatly benefit the establishment and expansion of T&CM services in Selayang Hospital.
Keywords
Knowledge and acceptance, acupuncture, traditional massage, post stroke, chronic pain
Description
Keywords
Cross-Sectional Studies, Medicine, Chinese Traditional, Acupuncture, Massage, Chronic Pain, Knowledge