Effectiveness of Auriculotherapy upon low back pain among the elderly at selected old age homes, Chennai

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: An experimental study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of auriculotherapy upon low back pain among the elderly at selected old age homes, Chennai. OBJECTIVES: 1. To assess the prevalence of low back pain among the elderly. 2. To assess the level of low back pain before and after auriculotherapy among the elderly in the control and experimental groups. 3. To assess the effectiveness of auriculotherapy among the elderly through comparison of low back pain before and after auriculotherapy. 4. To find out the association between the selected demographic and clinical variables and the level of low back pain before and after auriculotherapy among elderly in the control and experimental groups. 5. To assess the level of satisfaction of auriculotherapy among the elderly in the experimental group. The conceptual framework for this study was developed on the basis of King’s Goal Attainment Theory. The study variables were low back pain and auriculotherapy. Null Hypotheses were formulated. The level of significance was selected at p<0.05. An extensive review of literature and the guidance by experts laid the foundation to the development of the study instruments. An experimental research approach with true experimental design was used to achieve the objectives of the study. The present study was conducted in St. Thomas Home for Senior Citizens, Vyasarpadi and S.V. Home for the Aged, Arumbakkam. The sample size was 60 elderly with low back pain and they were selected randomly through lottery method of which 30 were assigned to the control group and 30 to the experimental group. The investigator used a demographic variable proforma, clinical variable proforma, Oswestry low back pain scale and rating scale on the level of satisfaction of auriculotherapy to collect the data from the study participants. The data collection tools were validated and reliability was established. After the pilot study, the data for the main study was collected for a period of one month. The collected data was tabulated and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. MAJOR FINDINGS OF THE STUDY: ❖ The prevalence of low back pain revealed that a significant percentage of the elderly had low back pain (42.105%), which presented as mild, moderate, severe and completely severe (3.68%, 10.53%, 14.21% & 13.68%) respectively. ❖ A significant percentage of the participants in both the control and experimental groups were in the age group of above 75 years (43.3%, 43.3%) and educated up to primary level (33.3%, 40%). ❖ Majority of the elderly with low back pain belonged to Hindu religion in both the control and experimental groups (93.3%, 63.3%), did not have the habit of smoking (90%, 76.4%), not alcoholics (83.3%, 90%) and were widows/widowers (76.7%, 80%) respectively. ❖ Most of the elderly in both the control and experimental groups were females (60%, 53.3%). Among them, a significant percentage have delivered twice (22.2%, 18.75%), vaginally (85.7%, 100%) and attained menopause at the age of 30- 40 years (38.9%, 50%) respectively. ❖ A majority of the participants in the control and experimental groups had dull pain (86.7%, 83.3%), none took complementary and alternative therapy, had straight spine (86.7%, 56.7%) with no spinal tenderness (76.7%, 56.7%). respectively. ❖ Most of them had history of trauma (50.0%, 73.3%), no urinary incontinence (63.3%, 83.3%), had aggravating factors such as standing/ walking (56.7%, 50%), the relieving factor was lying down (76.7%, 50%), with radiation of pain to legs (66.7%, 63.3%) and took other type of allopathic drugs as per their disease (63.3%, 50%) respectively. ❖ A significant percentage of the participants had the duration of pain for more than 5 years (33.3%, 50%), no numbness (53.3%, 50%) with no history of illness (40%, 46.7%), had tingling sensation (33.3%, 53.3%) and used no coping strategies for pain (46.7%, 46.7%) respectively. ❖ A significant percentage of the participants in the control group had severe pain both before and after therapy (33.3%, 33.3%). On the other hand, a significant percentage of the participants in the experimental group had completely severe pain before therapy whereas none had completely severe pain after therapy (43.3%, 0%). ❖ The mean and standard deviation of low back pain score of the control group of the elderly was same before therapy (M= 27.1, S.D=8.25) in comparison with the level of low back pain score after therapy (M=26.9, S.D=8.07). In the experimental group, the low back pain score before therapy was low (M= 23.73, S.D=6.84) in comparison with the level of low back pain score after therapy (M=30.33, S.D=7.53). The difference was found statistically significant at p<0.05 and can be attributed to the effectiveness of auriculotherapy. Thus the null hypothesis hereby Ho1 was rejected. ❖ Majority of the participants expressed high level of satisfaction with auriculotherapy for low back pain (83.3%). ❖ There was significant association between the demographic variables such as age in years, (χ2=9.7, df=3) at p<0.05, type of deliveries (χ2=14, df=6) at p<0.05, number of deliveries (χ2=8.9, df=3) at p<0.05 and age of menopause (χ2=7.93, df=3) at p<0.05 and the level of low back pain among the elderly. Hence the null hypothesis Ho2 was rejected. ❖ There was significant association between clinical variables such as aggravating factors (χ2=9.7402, df=3) at p<0.05, spinal curvature (χ2=15.3, df=3) at p<0.01and radiation of pain (χ2=10.83, df=3) at p