Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and clinical assessment of combination conventional Methadone Maintenance Therapy (MMT) and complementary therapy using acupuncture for drug addiction in the state of Terengganu, Malaysia
Drug addiction is frequently associated with adverse medical consequences, economical wastage and negative effects on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Despite the availability of Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT), high relapse rates in those ndergoing treatment have been observed. The evi...
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| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | Malay |
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| Summary: | Drug addiction is frequently associated with adverse medical consequences, economical wastage and negative effects on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Despite the availability of Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT), high relapse rates in those ndergoing treatment have been observed. The evidence for auricular acupuncture (AA) as a potential complementary therapy for chemical dependency remains limitedly explored. This two-part study was conducted to determine the 1) applicability, practicality, comprehensiveness, reliability and validity of the measurement instruments and 2) effects of AA addition to MMT, with clinical variable, coping style , satisfaction level, patient acceptability to AA and HRQoL as the final outcomes. The first part involved a cross-sectional pilot study at seven MMT centres in Terengganu. The Malay versions of World Health Organisation Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF), Patient Satisfaction with Pharmaceutical Care Questionnaire and Brief COPE were tested among 60 MMT patients without concomitant infection. Results were supportive of favourable psychometric properties; the average completion time was about seven minutes (SD = 1.8) and the internal consistency reliability was high (Cronbach's alpha = > 0.70). Most items (in all instruments) showed strong associations with their own domain (rs ? 0.40) indicating validity. The final part employed a prospective longitudinal study in 97 patients (MMT = 42; MMT + AA = 55) from three MMT centres in Terengganu. After randomisation, both groups received MMT while MMT + AA patients underwent concurrent AA session for eight weeks. For post-intervention analysis, only 69 patients were included after dropouts (MMT = 40; MMT + AA = 29). Post-intervention, all group reported significantly reduced number of cigarette smoked and methadone dose (p < 0.05) whereas no significant difference was detected in the psychosocial parameters. Over-time, the relatively positive impacts on smoking habit, withdrawal symptoms and significant increments for the majority of HRQoL areas were recorded in MMT + AA patients compared to MMT group (p < 0.05). Majority of patients rated the acupuncturist's service as "very good" to "excellent" while more than 90% state that AA was able to improve their overall condition and agreed to recommend AA in drug addiction treatment. The encouraging overall findings seemed to support the clinical and psychosocial benefits of AA incorporation into standard MMT. Patients high acceptability also suggests its promising potential as an adjunct therapy to complement the current treatment options for drug addiction. Nonetheless, due to uncontrolled confounding factors, further extensive studies are warranted to support these findings before it could be recommended as a practical, complementary therapy for this cohort. |
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| Physical Description: | xxviii, 220 leaves; 31 cm. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 162-186) |