Abstract
There is a dire need for a cost-effective and effective treatment option for sports
injuries. Sports injuries place a significant burden on healthcare worldwide, and
treating sports injuries is complex, with research revealing that only 38% of
athletes return to pre-injury levels two years after the injury. The literature reveals
that acupuncture could provide this treatment option. However, there is a distinct
lack of studies focusing on exploring patients’ views and experiences on the use
of acupuncture in sports injuries in the South African context. Therefore, the focus
of this study was to explore patients’ views and experiences on the use of
acupuncture to treat sports injuries.
The Health Belief Model (HBM) was utilised as a theoretical lens to understand
participants’ views and experiences. This study employed a descriptive
qualitative single case study design with a purposive sampling technique.
Participants were recruited from an identified health centre in Gauteng. The
research instruments utilised included semi-structured interviews, a researcher’s
reflective journal, and documentation. The data were analysed using the six-step
thematic analysis proposed by Creswell (2014). Pseudonyms were utilised during
data analysis to ensure the participants' confidentiality.
The findings revealed that participants shared positive views and experiences on
the use of acupuncture in sports injuries. However, it also identified that patients
reported a lack of knowledge of acupuncture. Additionally, this study identified
the importance of educating patients about the conditions that acupuncture can
treat. Furthermore, the research methodology utilised in this study can provide a
valuable blueprint for exploring the use of acupuncture for various conditions
globally. This study concluded with a recommendation to educate the public
regarding acupuncture in the treatment of sports injuries in South Africa.
Keywords: acupuncture; sports injuries; Health Belief Model; complementary
medicine; South Africa