Perception and use of complementary and alternative medicine for low back pain

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in patients with low back pain (LBP) and to identify its correlation with demographic factors, clinical condition and psychosocial factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 278 LBP patients. U...

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Main Authors: Vivian Hiu Man Tsang, Phoebe Hiu Wai Lo, Fong Tao Lam, Lulu Suet Wing Chung, Tin Yan Tang, Hoi Man Lui, Jordan Tsz Gwan Lau, Ho Fung Yee, Yiu Kun Lun, Hei Tung Chan, Jason Pui Yin Cheung
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2017-11-01
Series:Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/2309499017739480
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spelling doaj-34ece8592997491a963fcd855042771d2020-11-25T04:01:11ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of Orthopaedic Surgery2309-49902017-11-012510.1177/2309499017739480Perception and use of complementary and alternative medicine for low back painVivian Hiu Man TsangPhoebe Hiu Wai LoFong Tao LamLulu Suet Wing ChungTin Yan TangHoi Man LuiJordan Tsz Gwan LauHo Fung YeeYiu Kun LunHei Tung ChanJason Pui Yin CheungPurpose: To determine the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in patients with low back pain (LBP) and to identify its correlation with demographic factors, clinical condition and psychosocial factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 278 LBP patients. Use of CAM, demographic parameters and disease duration were determined. Self-reported health status and self-rated scales assessed the effect of disease on quality of life and emotional well-being, respectively. Satisfaction with orthopaedic care and belief partiality towards CAM were assessed. Results: In all, 72.3% patients sought CAM treatment. The most common choice of CAM was traditional Chinese medicine (TCM; n = 166), followed by massage therapy ( n = 114) and chiropractic treatment ( n = 45). Within TCM, acupuncture was the most popular treatment for LBP ( n = 127). Only 32.5% patients informed their doctors of their CAM use. In univariate analyses, factors positively associated with CAM use included duration of LBP (odds ratio (OR) = 1.45, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06–1.97), use of CAM in close social circles (OR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.15–3.43) and summary score for belief partiality towards CAM (OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.13–1.23). Variables negatively and significantly associated with status of CAM use include age (OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.95–0.99) and summary score for satisfaction with orthopaedic care (OR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.88–0.99). Conclusion: CAM use in patients with LBP is prevalent and largely unknown to their doctors. Personal beliefs and their satisfaction with conventional medical treatment both play a part in their decisions to use CAM. Future studies may aim at understanding the effect of CAM on patient adherence to conventional medical treatment and patients’ perception of well-being and pain.https://doi.org/10.1177/2309499017739480
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Vivian Hiu Man Tsang
Phoebe Hiu Wai Lo
Fong Tao Lam
Lulu Suet Wing Chung
Tin Yan Tang
Hoi Man Lui
Jordan Tsz Gwan Lau
Ho Fung Yee
Yiu Kun Lun
Hei Tung Chan
Jason Pui Yin Cheung
spellingShingle Vivian Hiu Man Tsang
Phoebe Hiu Wai Lo
Fong Tao Lam
Lulu Suet Wing Chung
Tin Yan Tang
Hoi Man Lui
Jordan Tsz Gwan Lau
Ho Fung Yee
Yiu Kun Lun
Hei Tung Chan
Jason Pui Yin Cheung
Perception and use of complementary and alternative medicine for low back pain
Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery
author_facet Vivian Hiu Man Tsang
Phoebe Hiu Wai Lo
Fong Tao Lam
Lulu Suet Wing Chung
Tin Yan Tang
Hoi Man Lui
Jordan Tsz Gwan Lau
Ho Fung Yee
Yiu Kun Lun
Hei Tung Chan
Jason Pui Yin Cheung
author_sort Vivian Hiu Man Tsang
title Perception and use of complementary and alternative medicine for low back pain
title_short Perception and use of complementary and alternative medicine for low back pain
title_full Perception and use of complementary and alternative medicine for low back pain
title_fullStr Perception and use of complementary and alternative medicine for low back pain
title_full_unstemmed Perception and use of complementary and alternative medicine for low back pain
title_sort perception and use of complementary and alternative medicine for low back pain
publisher SAGE Publishing
series Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery
issn 2309-4990
publishDate 2017-11-01
description Purpose: To determine the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in patients with low back pain (LBP) and to identify its correlation with demographic factors, clinical condition and psychosocial factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 278 LBP patients. Use of CAM, demographic parameters and disease duration were determined. Self-reported health status and self-rated scales assessed the effect of disease on quality of life and emotional well-being, respectively. Satisfaction with orthopaedic care and belief partiality towards CAM were assessed. Results: In all, 72.3% patients sought CAM treatment. The most common choice of CAM was traditional Chinese medicine (TCM; n = 166), followed by massage therapy ( n = 114) and chiropractic treatment ( n = 45). Within TCM, acupuncture was the most popular treatment for LBP ( n = 127). Only 32.5% patients informed their doctors of their CAM use. In univariate analyses, factors positively associated with CAM use included duration of LBP (odds ratio (OR) = 1.45, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06–1.97), use of CAM in close social circles (OR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.15–3.43) and summary score for belief partiality towards CAM (OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.13–1.23). Variables negatively and significantly associated with status of CAM use include age (OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.95–0.99) and summary score for satisfaction with orthopaedic care (OR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.88–0.99). Conclusion: CAM use in patients with LBP is prevalent and largely unknown to their doctors. Personal beliefs and their satisfaction with conventional medical treatment both play a part in their decisions to use CAM. Future studies may aim at understanding the effect of CAM on patient adherence to conventional medical treatment and patients’ perception of well-being and pain.
url https://doi.org/10.1177/2309499017739480
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