Survey of patients’ perspectives on the use of acupuncture as a complementary treatment for chronic pain

Background: Acupuncture has been increasingly used as a complementary therapy in pain management. At Singapore General Hospital pain management center, approximately 40% of patients are referred for adjunctive onsite acupuncture. This number is increasing as acupuncture becomes a more readily accepted adjunct to conventional pain therapies. Materials and Methods: We conducted a two-part survey to look at patients’ perspectives before their acupuncture treatment regimen and the efficacy and effects of acupuncture after 5–10 sessions in the multidisciplinary management for their pain conditions. Results: A total of 80 people participated in the survey over 4 months. Sixty-one participants completed the two-part survey. 57.6% of participants had pain related to spine degeneration, of which 68.9% and 77% reported being affected in their sleep and mood, respectively. Follow-up survey after acupuncture sessions showed statistically significant improvement in pain scores. 79.5% reported improvements in mood and 90.9% in mobility. 93.2% said they would recommend acupuncture in the follow-up survey. Conclusion: Acupuncture was shown to have statistically significant effects on pain scores based on our pilot survey results. Majority of patients also reported improved mood and mobility which are part of the multidimensional effects of chronic pain that affect quality of life.