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Engaging in the audit of acupuncture practice
Mark Bovey1, Carol Horner, Jackie Shaw
1Oriental Medicine Research Trust, Reading, United Kingdom.
Summary
This pilot study explored creating a UK national acupuncture database. While many patients reported benefits, practitioner participation was low due to research burdens, suggesting simplification is needed for future audits.
Area of Science:
- Integrative Medicine
- Public Health Research
- Acupuncture Practice Auditing
Background:
- Acupuncture is a widely used therapy in the UK.
- There is a need for robust data on acupuncture practice and outcomes.
- Previous research has not established a comprehensive national database for UK acupuncture.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of auditing acupuncture practices in the UK.
- To explore the development of a national database for acupuncture.
- To evaluate practitioner and patient data collection methods.
Main Methods:
- 145 British Acupuncture Council members were invited; 21% responded, 6% contributed data.
- Participating practitioners recorded patient demographics and outcomes over 3 months.
- Two outcome questionnaires were compared; baseline and follow-up patient feedback was collected.
Main Results:
- 69 patients participated; 68% female, 73% aged 30-59.
- Most patients had chronic (≥5 years) daily complaints; 30% had prior acupuncture.
- Musculoskeletal and psychological complaints were most common; 78% with data reported moderate/major benefit.
Conclusions:
- Practitioners found the research process burdensome, impacting feasibility for busy practices.
- Simplification and enhanced practitioner engagement are crucial for successful national acupuncture audits.
- Developing a national database could provide essential UK acupuncture treatment data.