A Preliminary Survey Report on the Use of Acupuncture Methods by Chinese Acupuncturists Worldwide

This survey aims to investigate the global utilization of acupuncture among Chinese acupuncturists and gather data on the prevalence and specific practices of acupuncture to provide insights into its adoption across diverse geographical regions.

We designed a 10-question survey questionnaire and distributed it anonymously to Chinese acupuncturists via academic WeChat groups and acupuncture conferences. Responses were collected using the WJX online platform. Data was analyzed using Excel.

In 6 months, 493 valid responses were received: 202 from China, 34 from other Asian countries, 184 from North America, 51 from Europe, and 22 from Oceania. Key findings include that 61.26% (302/493) of practitioners use fine needles, 60.85% (300/493) employ painless needle insertion, while 44.22% (218/493) emphasize the Deqi reactions, and 32.25% (159/493) utilize needle manipulation. However, these practices varied widely. Chinese acupuncturists in China reported lower usage (46.04%, 93/202) of gentle needling compared to those outside China (71.13%, 207/291), χ2 = 7.94, P = .005. Furthermore, 82.73% of acupuncturists reported the absence of pain or discomfort during acupuncture treatments, with most patients expressing satisfaction.

Pleasant acupuncture emerges as the predominant method among Chinese acupuncturists globally.