The use of acupuncture and attitudes to regulation among doctors in the UK--a survey.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the usage of acupuncture by members of British Medical Acupuncture Society (BMAS) in their daily work, in the course of a survey of attitudes to regulation of the acupuncture profession.

METHODS

A brief questionnaire survey of all members was conducted in December 2002.

RESULTS

After a single mailing, 1112 members responded (a response rate of 48%). Seventy-five percent of these were general practitioners. The majority were in support of a regulatory process. Ninety percent of respondents indicated that they use acupuncture in their practice, giving an average of about eight treatments per week. Sixty-one percent of these treatments are given within the National Health Service (NHS) at no cost to the patient.

CONCLUSION

It is estimated that BMAS members provide a total of about one million acupuncture treatments each year, of which well over half a million are given within the NHS.