Physicians' influence on veterans' decision to use acupuncture
Sean N Halpin1, Wei Huang2, Molly M Perkins3
1Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Department of Veterans Affairs, Decatur, USA.
Patient Education and Counseling
|August 5, 2014
Summary
Physician referrals do not predict patient acupuncture use. However, physicians believing acupuncture improves patient satisfaction may influence patient choices, highlighting the need for better provider education on acupuncture.
Area of Science:
- Integrative Medicine
- Healthcare Provider Attitudes
- Patient Treatment Choices
Background:
- Acupuncture is an increasingly utilized complementary therapy.
- Understanding physician perspectives is crucial for patient access to acupuncture.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare patient acupuncture utilization with physician attitudes and referral history.
- To identify factors influencing physician referral for acupuncture.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire survey was administered to 114 patients and 33 physicians at the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
- Data collected included patient acupuncture use and physician attitudes/referral history.
- Qualitative analysis explored physicians' perceptions of acupuncture.
Main Results:
- Physician referral history did not correlate with patient acupuncture use.
- Physician belief in acupuncture enhancing patient satisfaction was linked to higher patient use (p=0.01).
- Key physician concerns included lack of knowledge, perceived unavailability, and insufficient provider capacity for acupuncture.
Conclusions:
- Physician referral patterns are not the primary driver of patient acupuncture use.
- Physician attitudes, particularly regarding patient satisfaction, can influence patient decisions.
- Addressing provider knowledge gaps and improving access are vital for shared decision-making regarding acupuncture.
