Question 1: Are changes on patients' perceived quality of life a function of the acupuncture treatment?
As Table 1 shows, Patient 2 and Patient 3 increased their overall physical functioning while Patient 5 and Patient 6 increased their overall mental health. However, there were patients who did not show differences after treatment. For example, Patient 1, patient 7, and Patient 8 did not show changes after treatment.
An examination of the scores among the subscales indicates that physical functioning, general health, vitality, and role emotional are the scales in which the patients showed greater improvement. To illustrate, Figure 1 displays changes in physical functioning among the eight patients. The red line represents the pre test scores on physical functioning and the green line represents the posttest scores on physical functioning. As Figure 1 shows the lines are not parallels and the green line (posttest scores) is often above the red line (pre test). These findings indicate positive changes on the patients' physical functioning after treatment. The same information is presented in Figure 2.
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|
|
PF
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RP
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BP
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GH
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VT
|
SF
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RE
|
MH
|
PCS
|
MCS
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Patients 1
|
Time 1
|
57.73
|
57.15
|
55.74
|
57.93
|
54.83
|
56.89
|
56.11
|
58.04
|
56.00
|
55.00
|
|
|
Time 2
|
57.73
|
57.15
|
55.74
|
57.93
|
51.81
|
56.89
|
56.11
|
55.32
|
57.24
|
54.17
|
|
Patient 2
|
Time 1
|
33.77
|
45.53
|
46.69
|
53.25
|
51.81
|
56.89
|
48.70
|
55.32
|
40.38
|
58.86
|
|
|
Time 2
|
37.76
|
45.53
|
55.74
|
57.93
|
54.83
|
51.61
|
45.00
|
55.32
|
46.96
|
54.67
|
|
Patient 3
|
Time 1
|
43.75
|
38.55
|
38.05
|
42.94
|
48.78
|
30.47
|
56.11
|
55.32
|
35.00
|
53.00
|
|
|
Time 2
|
48.86
|
50.18
|
62.33
|
56.21
|
54.83
|
56.89
|
52.41
|
52.60
|
54.09
|
54.24
|
|
Patient 4
|
Time 1
|
55.73
|
57.15
|
62.33
|
64.02
|
66.94
|
56.89
|
56.11
|
63.48
|
58.64
|
61.42
|
|
|
Time 2
|
57.73
|
57.15
|
46.28
|
54.65
|
66.94
|
56.89
|
56.11
|
63.48
|
52.05
|
62.67
|
|
Patient 5
|
Time 1
|
53.74
|
57.15
|
51.63
|
57.93
|
54.83
|
46.32
|
56.11
|
47.16
|
56.21
|
49.40
|
|
|
Time 2
|
55.73
|
57.15
|
55.74
|
57.93
|
63.91
|
56.89
|
56.11
|
58.04
|
56.14
|
58.80
|
|
Patient 6
|
Time 1
|
53.74
|
57.15
|
55.74
|
43.88
|
51.81
|
51.61
|
33.90
|
47.16
|
58.15
|
40.29
|
|
|
Time 2
|
57.73
|
57.15
|
55.74
|
59.34
|
57.86
|
56.89
|
56.11
|
52.60
|
58.37
|
54.25
|
|
Patient 7
|
Time 1
|
39.76
|
47.85
|
38.05
|
24.21
|
48.78
|
35.75
|
45.00
|
55.32
|
34.53
|
50.49
|
|
|
Time 2
|
33.77
|
47.85
|
38.46
|
33.57
|
42.73
|
35.75
|
52.41
|
49.80
|
34.06
|
50.83
|
|
Patient 8
|
Time 1
|
53.74
|
54.82
|
55.74
|
53.25
|
54.83
|
56.89
|
56.11
|
52.60
|
54.25
|
54.84
|
|
|
Time 2
|
55.73
|
52.50
|
55.74
|
62.61
|
57.86
|
56.89
|
48.70
|
55.32
|
57.50
|
53.00
|
Pre and Posttest Physical Functioning
Pre and Posttest Physical Functioning
