Acupuncture for Pediatrics: An Educational Initiative.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pain Management
• Integrative Medicine

Background:

• The opioid crisis necessitates non-pharmacologic pain management strategies, with acupuncture recognized by major health organizations.
• Despite its recognized effectiveness, acupuncture education for healthcare providers remains limited.
• The Acupuncture for Pediatrics Workshop (AcuPeds-Workshop) was developed to address this educational gap.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of the AcuPeds-Workshop on healthcare providers' knowledge, attitudes, and intended application of acupuncture.
• To assess the effectiveness of a novel educational intervention for integrating acupuncture into pediatric pain management.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study utilizing immediate and 1-month post-workshop surveys.
• Workshop content included acupuncture history, literature review, patient videos, and hands-on training.
• Surveys assessed knowledge, clinical scenario application, contraindications, and attitudes towards acupuncture.

Main Results:

• 97% of attendees reported increased knowledge of acupuncture indications post-workshop.
• A majority correctly answered clinical application and contraindication scenarios immediately and one month after the workshop.
• 88% of attendees expressed willingness to use acupuncture for patients, and 11% considered referring patients one month later.

Conclusions:

• The AcuPeds-Workshop positively influenced attendees' knowledge, application, and attitudes regarding acupuncture.
• This educational initiative supports the integration of acupuncture as a non-pharmacologic pain therapy in pediatric settings.
• The workshop effectively enhanced providers' confidence and readiness to utilize acupuncture for pain management.