Acupuncture to Treat Primary Dysmenorrhea in Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Table 1
Characteristics of the women at trial entry by allocated treatment group.
Acupuncture group,
Control group,
Age in yearsa
19.5 (2.9)
18.9 (3.2)
BMI
Underweight
4 (8.7)
3 (6.5)
Normal (18.5 to <25)
29 (63.0)
26 (56.5)
Overweight (25 to <30)
6 (13.0)
9 (19.6)
Obese (≥30)
2 (4.3)
4 (8.7)
Missing
5 (10.9)
4 (8.7)
Currently smoking
5 (10.9)
2 (4.3)
Ever alcohol drinking
29 (63.0)
33 (71.7)
Finished high school
10 (21.7)
12 (26.1)
Completed tertiary education
14 (30.4)
13 (28.3)
SEIFA
Low SEI
14 (30.4)
8 (17.4)
High SEI
15 (32.6)
21 (45.7)
Menstrual pain intensity
5.6 (3.1)
6.1 (2.5)
Other menstrual symptoms
46 (100.0)
44 (95.7)
Need for additional analgesia
43 (93.5)
41 (89.1)
Restricted activities
24 (52.2)
20 (43.5)
SF36
Physical functioningb
95 (70–100.0)
95 (90–100)
Role physicalb
100 (75–100)
100 (50–100)
Bodily pain
53.8 (20.6)
55.4 (18.7)
General health
68.8 (17.5)
67.7 (21.2)
Vitality
53.7 (20.5)
55.7 (16.3)
Social functioning
75.3 (20.9)
77.2 (19.5)
Role emotional
74.1 (36.9)
75.6 (34.4)
Mental health
63.5 (21.7)
69.4 (14.8)
Overall Physical Component (SF36)
49.0 (8.6)
49.3 (6.8)
Overall Mental component
43.9 (13.1)
45.3 (9.8)
Brazier Health State Utility
0.7 (0.1)
0.81 (0.1)
Values are number (%) of women.
aValues are mean (SD), or median (IQR).
bSEIFA, a measure of the socio-economic well-being of Australian communities, and identify areas of advantage and disadvantage [19].
