MGH Center for Translational Pain Research, Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Pain Med. 2010 Apr;11(4):530-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2010.00815.x. Epub 2010 Mar 1.
To collect information on the role of acupuncture in pain management from pain physicians and referral physicians who manage clinical pain conditions.
The survey was conducted between 2007 and 2008 through nationwide direct mail or e-mail to 1083 physicians who are currently practicing in the United States. We divided our 16 survey questions into five categories: 1) physician's attitude toward acupuncture as a modality of pain management; 2) physician's preference or belief with regard to the type of pain condition suitable for acupuncture referrals; 3) timing for making acupuncture referrals (e.g., acupuncture as a first line pain treatment option or a last approach after failed conventional pain management); 4) clinical assessment criteria for the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy; and 5) barriers to making acupuncture referrals (e.g., physician's personal view, insurance issues, patient refusal, etc.). The survey results were calculated and interpreted as the percentage rate of response.
The results indicate that an overwhelming majority of survey responders have a positive attitude and favorable experience with using acupuncture as an alternative modality for chronic pain management. However, our survey responders are mostly from teaching hospitals, suggesting a possible gap between teaching hospitals and other medical facilities (private practice and community hospitals) in utilizing acupuncture for pain management. The lack of insurance coverage and facility for acupuncture treatment are two primary barriers to making acupuncture referrals.
The survey results indicate that acupuncture is considered by many physicians to be a useful alternative modality for chronic pain management.
从管理临床疼痛病症的疼痛医师和转诊医师那里收集有关针灸在疼痛管理中作用的信息。
该调查于 2007 年至 2008 年期间通过全国范围内的直接邮件或电子邮件向目前在美国执业的 1083 名医师进行。我们将我们的 16 个调查问题分为五类：1）医师对针灸作为疼痛管理模式的态度；2）医师对适合针灸转诊的疼痛病症类型的偏好或信念；3）进行针灸转诊的时间（例如，将针灸作为一线疼痛治疗选择或在常规疼痛管理失败后的最后方法）；4）针灸治疗效果的临床评估标准；5）进行针灸转诊的障碍（例如，医师的个人观点、保险问题、患者拒绝等）。调查结果以回应率的百分比计算和解释。
结果表明，绝大多数调查回应者对将针灸作为慢性疼痛管理的替代疗法持积极态度和良好的体验。然而，我们的调查回应者大多来自教学医院，这表明在利用针灸进行疼痛管理方面，教学医院与其他医疗设施（私人诊所和社区医院）之间可能存在差距。缺乏保险覆盖和针灸治疗设施是进行针灸转诊的两个主要障碍。
调查结果表明，许多医师认为针灸是慢性疼痛管理的一种有用的替代疗法。
