Selection of Acupuncture for Musculoskeletal Pain

Tri Handayani
5 min readMay 19, 2023

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“Exploring the Selection of Acupuncture for Musculoskeletal Pain: Insights and Findings Visualized”

In this project, an extensive investigation was conducted using Microsoft Excel and IBM SPSS version 22.0 to analyze the selection of acupuncture as a treatment for musculoskeletal pain cases. The primary objective was to identify the underlying reasons behind this choice. The analysis revealed that among the various types of musculoskeletal pain experienced by individuals seeking relief, low back pain accounted for the highest percentage (32.39%). It was also discovered that farmers had a significantly higher prevalence of low back pain compared to individuals in other occupations. The findings of this study highlighted that 75% of respondents agreed that acupuncture therapy was more affordable. The project shed light on the factors influencing the preference for acupuncture and emphasized the importance of addressing the specific needs of individuals experiencing musculoskeletal pain, particularly in the Klaten region of Central Java. By leveraging Microsoft Excel and IBM SPSS, a comprehensive analysis was conducted, providing valuable insights into the prevalence of low back pain and its impact on individuals, especially farmers. This research contributes to a better understanding of musculoskeletal pain management and emphasizes the significance of considering alternative treatment options for patients in need.

Introduction

This project focuses on analyzing the determinants of acupuncture therapy selection for addressing musculoskeletal pain in the acupuncture clinics of Klaten Regency. The study aims to contribute to the fundamental data on the utilization of acupuncture for musculoskeletal pain in clinical settings, providing insights into the potential and benefits of acupuncture in improving public health.

Objective

The objective of this study is to analyze the determinants of acupuncture therapy selection for musculoskeletal pain in the acupuncture clinics of Klaten Regency. The research population includes individuals experiencing musculoskeletal pain who sought acupuncture treatment in Klaten between July and October 2022. This research contributes to the basic data on the utilization of acupuncture for musculoskeletal pain in clinical services, providing an overview of the potential and benefits of acupuncture in improving public health.

Data Source

The primary data for this study were collected through questionnaires directly filled out by individuals experiencing musculoskeletal pain in the acupuncture clinics of Klaten between July and October 2022. Each response to the statements was weighted using a Likert scale measurement, where 1 represents “Strongly Disagree,” 2 represents “Disagree,” 3 represents “Agree,” and 4 represents “Strongly Agree.”

Data Cleansing and Preparation

Data validity and reliability tests were conducted to ensure the quality of the collected data.

Data Exploration and Visualization

In this study, data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows version 22.0 and Microsoft Excel 2016 edition. The analysis included the following:

  • Univariate Analysis: Univariate analysis was used to describe the respondents’ profiles, including gender, age groups, occupation, education, and types of complaints. It was also conducted to analyze the determinants of acupuncture therapy selection for musculoskeletal pain in the acupuncture clinics of Klaten between July and October 2022. All variables were categorical data and described through frequency distribution and proportions. The data for each variable were presented in tables and interpreted based on the obtained results.
  • Bivariate Analysis: Bivariate analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between respondents’ profiles (gender, age groups, occupation, education) and types of complaints, as well as the relationship between respondents’ profiles and each statement provided. Chi-square (χ2) Test for Independence (Pearson Chi-Square Test) with a 95% confidence level was used for bivariate analysis in this study.
  • Multivariate Analysis: Multivariate analysis was performed to analyze data consisting of multiple variables. In this study, multivariate analysis was conducted to determine which variables from the respondents’ profiles influenced the types of complaints and the influence of respondents’ profiles on the selection of answers for each statement. One-way ANOVA followed by the Tukey HSD test was used to determine the significant variables.

Insights

From a total of 284 respondents experiencing musculoskeletal pain in the acupuncture clinics of Klaten between July and October 2022, the majority were female, accounting for 162 individuals (57%). Among the respondents, the highest number of males belonged to the age group of 51–60 years, with 46 individuals (37.70%), while the highest number of females belonged to the age group of 41–50 years, with 65 individuals (40.12%). The largest occupational group among the respondents was self-employed, with 68 individuals (23.94%), followed by housewives with 67 individuals (23.59%). In terms of education, the majority of respondents were bachelor’s degree holders, with 95 individuals (33.45%), followed by high school graduates with 88 individuals (30.99%). The most common complaint among the respondents was lower back pain, experienced by 92 individuals (32.39%). The analysis results also showed that the most common complaint, lower back pain, was most frequently experienced by housewives, with 24 individuals (35.8%).

57% of respondents believed in acupuncture’s effectiveness for relieving neuromusculoskeletal pain. 60% learned about acupuncture’s efficacy for such pain through word-of-mouth recommendations. Contrarily, only 50% disagreed that they acquired knowledge about acupuncture’s effectiveness from social media. 48% acquired knowledge about acupuncture’s efficacy from healthcare professionals. 55% agreed, and 44% strongly agreed, that the chosen acupuncture service met their healthcare needs. 64% believed acupuncture for relieving nerve, muscle, and joint pain did not conflict with their religious beliefs. 45% disagreed, and 35% agreed, that they felt frustrated with the received medical care. 52% agreed that combining acupuncture with other interventions would expedite their healing process. 48% strongly agreed they were concerned about side effects from excessive medication. Lastly, a significant majority of 75% agreed that acupuncture therapy was more cost-effective for them.

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Tri Handayani

Passionate data analyst with expertise in PostgreSQL, Power BI, and Python. Enthusiastic about leveraging analytics to drive informed decision-making.