Patient experience of acupuncture provision in a GP practice

Area of Science:

• Integrative Medicine
• General Practice
• Complementary Therapies

Background:

• General practitioners (GPs) are increasingly exploring complementary therapies.
• Patient demand for alternative treatments like acupuncture is growing.
• Evaluating patient experience and outcomes is crucial for integrating new services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate patient experience with acupuncture provided in a GP surgery setting.
• To assess the clinical effectiveness of acupuncture using patient-reported outcome measures.
• To understand the impact of acupuncture on quality of life and medication use.

Main Methods:

• Prospective evaluation over 18 months involving patients referred for six 45-minute acupuncture sessions.
• Utilized the Measure Your Medical Outcome Profile (MYMOP) tool before the first and after the last treatment.
• Administered a patient experience survey after the final acupuncture appointment.

Main Results:

• Statistically and clinically significant improvement in mean MYMOP scores (p < 0.0000).
• Observed reductions in patient medication usage.
• Reported decrease in pain and stress levels, alongside improved quality of life.

Conclusions:

• Acupuncture services in primary care settings demonstrate benefit for patients, particularly those with chronic conditions.
• Further investigation into the cost-effectiveness and long-term benefits of acupuncture within the NHS is warranted.
• Positive patient experience suggests acupuncture can be a valuable addition to conventional GP services.