Outcomes of traditional Chinese medicine (traditional acupuncture) treatment for people with long-term conditions.

A set of outcome questionnaires has been developed to measure the range of treatment effects of traditional acupuncture. In this descriptive outcome study we validated these questionnaires in a busy National Health Service funded acupuncture clinic serving communities of diverse socio-economic circumstances. Some of the questionnaires performed better than others in this setting but EQ-5D and MYMOP-qual both showed statistically and clinically significant improvement in physical and psychological health after six weeks and six months, in all categories of disease and degrees of chronicity. Both the written qualitative data and the Patient Enablement Instrument (PEI) demonstrated considerable patient enablement and, for some patients, the acquisition of new coping and self-care strategies.The questionnaires were feasible to administer, acceptable to patients and clinic staff, and provided robust and detailed quantitative and qualitative outcome data of use for service provision, future planning, and as a basis for further cost-effectiveness studies.