Publication: PERCEPTION TOWARD ACUPUNCTURE AS A TREATMENT MODALITY IN PAIN MANAGEMENT: A SURVEY AMONG THE MEMBERS OF A PRIVATE HEALTHCARE CENTRE
Date
2022
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Medical University
Abstract
Introduction
With the growing interest and increasing use of acupuncture in the treatment of various health
conditions including pain relief, acupuncture has been integrated within many hospitals around
the world.
Objective
To assess people's perception toward acupuncture as a treatment modality for pain, with the
aim of providing meaningful information as an impetus toward future development of
acupuncture in pain management.
Methodology
This research study was carried out via cross-sectional survey using a convenient sampling
method. A sample of 373 members of a private healthcare centre was recruited. IBM SPSS
Statistics 20 was used to carry out quantitative analysis of the data collected. Descriptive
statistics such as percentages and frequencies were used to analyze the data collected.
Results
The mean knowledge score of the respondents was 3.38 ± 1.52; and the mean attitude score of
the respondents was 6.11 ± I .4 I. There was statistically significant difference in the mean
knowledge score and mean attitude score between Users and Non-users (p<0.05). Gender, age
group, ethnicity, religion, education level and monthly income were found to be statistically
insignificant variables in the mean knowledge score and mean attitude score (p>0.05).
Close to half the respondents (49.6%) had received acupuncture treatment ("Users"). 60% of
the Users were suffered from chronic pain. The most commonly treated pain condition among
the Users was back pain (58.9%), followed by joint pain (42.2%) and neck pain (41 .1%).
Among the User s, 93.5% of them felt that acupuncture has no side-effect, and 91 .8% of them
felt that their pain conditions had been relieved after receiving acupuncture treatment Conclusion
A majority of the respondents had an average level of knowledge and demonstrated a positive
attitude toward acupuncture. Most of the Users perceived acupuncture as effective in the
treatment of pain and without side-effect. Musculoskeletal pain was found to be the
most commonly treated pain condition among the Users. Acupuncturists' experience was
the top ranked criteria considered by respondents in their decision to use acupuncture.
Keywords
Pain Management, Acupuncture, Knowledge, Attitude, Survey
Description
Keywords
Acupuncture, Perception, Cross-Sectional Studies, Pain Management, Knowledge, Attitude