Yeung Analysis

We intend to explain about the article of “Electro-Acupuncture Application and Exercise for Treatment of Chronic Pain at Lower Back Portion conducted by Chow, Leung and Yeung.” Here, we have focused to make sure electro puncture treatment (EA) and the physical exercise would effect on extent of practical improvement, pain and incapacity. Main reason for conducting the research work is that there was a scarcity of relevant scientific evidence related to overall effectiveness of therapeutic intervention to deal with pain across lower back portion (Yeung, Mason & Leung, 2009). In addition, our research team intends to explore the new concept of combining medical practices of Western group with acupuncture treatment to ease the characteristics of disability and pain of chronic condition associated with pain at lower back portion.

For analysis of their findings, our research experts will use t-test method. In addition, the decision related to utilization of statistical tool was essential for research on different factors. T-test would help researchers in comparing the means of 26 participants present in the entire exercise with additional 26 participants, who would follow EA cohort. Moreover, the standards of the test will monitor results at specified benchmarks, which include immediate follow up after discharge, one month after discharge and three months after discharge. These standards are of very much essential to identify statistical significance present in between two different means. Hence, we can say that the t-test used in the study was intended to determine any kind of statistical variance between two different groups with the objective to find out bottom line associated with the significance.

T-test also plays a major role in the research work at the time, when researchers do not have any information about standard deviation of the population. Particularly, there exists a widespread issue related to pain in the lower back portion in various Western countries. Here, one could never expect to find a single factor contributing towards pain at lower back portion. Instead, causes may include anything, which is related to sciatica or gamut, degenerative disease and traumatic injury. By simple utilization of t-test, we may represent large sample size during the cases when we do not have any information about standard deviation.

Other than this, we want to use the readily available statistical tool of Chi Square Test. This type of tool is not useful when cohorts’ presentation does not similar. Here, each sample should compulsorily be independent. Lower back pain was the single and similar character, which cohorts have, but we cannot consider it as an effective mechanism associated with the pain. By using this tool, we may not get a true cohort, as our research work would not allow lumping of the group within a particular collection without considering their distributions in random way.

Our sample included patients possessing similar characteristics. However, only random distribution pattern has placed such samples within a particular cohort. Along with this, while using the test, researchers recommended for sample size for cohorts containing more than 50 different participants.

References

Yeung, K., Mason, P., & Leung, P. (2009). The use of electro-acupuncture in conjunction with exercise for the treatment of chronic low-back pain. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 479-490.