The Reasons for and Satisfaction from Using Acupuncture in Isfahan

Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

2 General Practitioner, Isfahan, Iran

3 General Practitioner, Khomeini Shahr Health Center, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Background: Acupuncture with classical anatomical bioenergetic base is one of ancient complementary medical methods in the world. The correct application of acupuncture is an advantageous method since it does not cause any serious and life threatening side effects. Although acupuncture has not been long practiced in Iran, its use is constantly growing. However, there is not any accurate statistics about the reasons it is used and the level of satisfaction from the treatment. Therefore, we decided to evaluate these parameters in Isfahan.Methods: This was a descriptive analytical study conducted in Isfahan,Iran, during spring 2011. The target group included people who referred to acupuncture clinics in this city. According to the formula, the sample size was estimated as about 227 patients who were randomly selected. Subjects were included if they participated at least 10 sessions of acupuncture treatment and did not begin any new treatment method. The only exclusion criterion was refusing to fill the questionnaire. Data was collected through questionnaires and was analyzed by SPSS.Findings: In this study, we evaluated patients who were treated with acupuncture. Most of them were women (77%). Their mean age was 38.4 ± 11.99 years. The majority of the patients had university education. The commonest complaints among the patients were obesity, backache, joint pain, anxiety, headache, neck pain, hypertension, dermatological disorders and nausea. Most patients tried acupuncture since conventional medicine has been unsuccessfulness to treat their problems. The average scores of satisfaction from the acupuncture method and specialist were 27.72 ± 3.6 and 28.71 ± 5.45 (out of 35), respectively. Patients reported acupuncture to be able to reduce their issues including headache (61%), obesity (58%), musculoskeletal pain (56%), anxiety (51%), and dermatological disorders (20%). Conclusion: According to the satisfaction rates from acupuncture, Iranians may be more willing to use acupuncture in the future. Chronic pain and obesity are important problems in modern societies that lead to disabling situations either as part of a disease progression or side effects of drugs used for their treatment. Therefore, considering the fewer side effects of acupuncture in comparison with conventional medicine, it is necessary to perform more research about different aspects of this therapy.

Keywords

References

  1. Richardson J. What patients expect from complementary therapy: a qualitative study. Am J Public Health 2004; 94(6): 1049-53.
  2. Barnes PM, Power-Griner E, Mc Fann K, Nahin PL. Advanced Data from Vital and Health Statistics: No 343. Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use among Adults: United states 2002. Hyattsville Maryland: National Center for Health Statistics; 2004.
  3. Vincent C, Furnham A. Why do patients turn to complementary medicine? An empirical study. Br J Clin Psychol 1996; 35 (Pt 1): 37-48.
  4. Furnham A, Kirkcaldy B. The health beliefs and behaviours of orthodox and complementary medicine clients. Br J Clin Psychol 1996; 35 (Pt 1): 49-61.
  5. Furlan AD, van TM, Cherkin D, Tsukayama H, Lao L, Koes B, et al. Acupuncture and dry-needling for low back pain: an updated systematic review within the framework of the cochrane collaboration. Spine (Phila Pa 1976 ) 2005; 30(8): 944-63.
  6. Ezzo J, Berman B, Hadhazy VA, Jadad AR, Lao L, Singh BB. Is acupuncture effective for the treatment of chronic pain? A systematic review. Pain 2000; 86(3): 217-25.
  7. Berman BM, Lao L, Langenberg P, Lee WL, Gilpin AM, Hochberg MC. Effectiveness of acupuncture as adjunctive therapy in osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized, controlled trial. Ann Intern Med 2004; 141(12): 901-10.
  8. Manheimer E, White A, Berman B, Forys K, Ernst E. Meta-analysis: acupuncture for low back pain. Ann Intern Med 2005; 142(8): 651-63.
  9. Scharf HP, Mansmann U, Streitberger K, Witte S, Kramer J, Maier C, et al. Acupuncture and knee osteoarthritis: a three-armed randomized trial. Ann Intern Med 2006; 145(1): 12-20.
  10. Brinkhaus B, Witt CM, Jena S, Linde K, Streng A, Wagenpfeil S, et al. Acupuncture in patients with chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Intern Med 2006; 166(4): 450-7.
  11. White P, Lewith G, Prescott P, Conway J. Acupuncture versus placebo for the treatment of chronic mechanical neck pain: a randomized, controlled trial. Ann Intern Med 2004; 141(12): 911-9.
  12. Streitberger K, Diefenbacher M, Bauer A, Conradi R, Bardenheuer H, Martin E, et al. Acupuncture compared to placebo-acupuncture for postoperative nausea and vomiting prophylaxis: a randomised placebo-controlled patient and observer blind trial. Anaesthesia 2004; 59(2): 142-9.
  13. Ezzo J, Vickers A, Richardson MA, Allen C, Dibble SL, Issell B, et al. Acupuncture-point stimulation for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. J Clin Oncol 2005; 23(28): 7188-98.
  14. Ezzo JM, Richardson MA, Vickers A, Allen C, Dibble SL, Issell BF, et al. Acupuncture-point stimulation for chemotherapy-induced nausea or vomiting. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2006; (2): CD002285.
  15. Smith CA, Collins CT, Cyna AM, Crowther CA. Complementary and alternative therapies for pain management in labour. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2006; (4): CD003521.
  16. Vickers AJ, Rees RW, Zollman CE, McCarney R, Smith CM, Ellis N, et al. Acupuncture for chronic headache in primary care: large, pragmatic, randomised trial. BMJ 2004; 328(7442): 744.
  17. Ahn AC, Kaptchuk TJ. Advancing acupuncture research. Altern Ther Health Med 2005; 11(3): 40-5.
  18. Linde K, Streng A, Jurgens S, Hoppe A, Brinkhaus B, Witt C, et al. Acupuncture for patients with migraine: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2005; 293(17): 2118-25.
  19. Flachskampf FA, Gallasch J, Gefeller O, Gan J, Mao J, Pfahlberg AB, et al. Randomized trial of acupuncture to lower blood pressure. Circulation 2007; 115(24): 3121-9.
  20. Yamashita H, Tsukayama H, Tanno Y, Nishijo K. Adverse events in acupuncture and moxibustion treatment: a six-year survey at a national clinic in Japan. J Altern Complement Med 1999; 5(3): 229-36.
  21. Melchart D, Weidenhammer W, Streng A, Reitmayr S, Hoppe A, Ernst E, et al. Prospective investigation of adverse effects of acupuncture in 97 733 patients. Arch Intern Med 2004; 164(1): 104-5.
  22. MacPherson H, Thomas K, Walters S, Fitter M. A prospective survey of adverse events and treatment reactions following 34,000 consultations with professional acupuncturists. Acupunct Med 2001; 19(2): 93-102.
  23. Upchurch DM, Burke A, Dye C, Chyu L, Kusunoki Y, Greendale GA. A sociobehavioral model of acupuncture use, patterns, and satisfaction among women in the United States, 2002. Womens Health Issues 2008; 18(1): 62-71.
  24. Mahmoudian A, Sadri GH, Kharaziha A. Patient's Satisfaction of Homeopathy in Isfahan [Thesis]. Isfahan: Isfahan University of Medical Sciences; 2005.
  25. Last Statistic Information of Study in Iran [Online]. Available from: URL: http://www.dadna.ir/fa/news/898. 2010
  26. Chrousos GP. The role of stress and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in the pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome: neuro-endocrine and target tissue-related causes. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2000; 24(Suppl 2): S50-5
  27. Cho SH, Lee JS, Thabane L, Lee J. Acupuncture for obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Obes (Lond) 2009; 33(2): 183-96.
  28. Zhao ZQ. Neural mechanism underlying acupuncture analgesia. Prog Neurobiol 2008; 85(4): 355-75.
  29. Ahsin S, Saleem S, Bhatti AM, Iles RK, Aslam M. Clinical and endocrinological changes after electro-acupuncture treatment in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Pain 2009; 147(1-3): 60-6.
  30. Chen CJ, Yu HS. Acupuncture, electrostimulation, and reflex therapy in dermatology. Dermatol Ther 2003; 16(2): 87-92.
  31. Weidenhammer W, Linde K, Melchart D. Patient satisfaction with routine care acupuncture in chronic pain conditions. Does gender play a role? European Journal of Integrative Medicine 2008; 1(Suppl 1): 18-9.
  32. Sherman KJ, Cherkin DC, Ichikawa L, Avins AL, Barlow WE, Khalsa PS, et al. Characteristics of patients with chronic back pain who benefit from acupuncture. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2009; 10: 114.
Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 29, Issue 166 - Serial Number 166
November and December 2012
Pages 2280-2288

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 15 October 2011
  • Revise Date: 01 November 2024
  • Accept Date: 06 April 2022

Share

How to cite

Statistics