Wang Haiyi, Yang Guanhu, Wang Shaobai, Zheng Xin, Zhang Wei, Li Yongming
* School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, P. R. China.
∥ American TCM Society, New York City, New York, USA.
Am J Chin Med. 2018 Oct 9:1-33. doi: 10.1142/S0192415X18500738.
Acupuncture has been a popular alternative medicine in the United States for several decades. Its therapeutic effects on pain have been validated by both basic and clinical researches, and it is currently emerging as a unique non-pharmaceutical choice for pain against opioid crisis. However, the full spectrum of acupuncture indications remains unexplored. In this study, we conducted a cross-sectional survey among 419 acupuncturists nation-wide to investigate the top 10 and top 99 acupuncture indications in private clinics in the United States. We found the top 10 indications to be: lower back pain, depression, anxiety, headache, arthritis, allergies, general pain, female infertility, insomnia, neck pain and frozen shoulder. Among the top 99 indications, pain represents the largest category; and mental health management, especially for mood disorders, is in greatest demand. The following popular groups are: immune system dysfunctions, gastrointestinal diseases, gynecology and neurology. In addition, specialty index, commonality index, and the potential to become medical specialties were estimated for each indication. Demographic analysis suggests that China trained acupuncturists tend to have broader indication spectrums, but the top conditions treated are primarily decided by local needs. Also, gender, resident states, age and clinical experience all affect indication distributions. Our data for the first time outlines the profile of acupuncture treatable conditions in the US and is valuable for strategic planning in acupuncture training, healthcare administration and public education.
几十年来，针灸在美国一直是一种广受欢迎的替代医学。其对疼痛的治疗效果已得到基础研究和临床研究的验证，目前正成为对抗阿片类药物危机的独特非药物止痛选择。然而，针灸适应症的全貌仍未得到充分探索。在本研究中，我们对全国419名针灸师进行了一项横断面调查，以调查美国私人诊所中排名前十和前九十九的针灸适应症。我们发现排名前十的适应症为：腰痛、抑郁症、焦虑症、头痛、关节炎、过敏、全身疼痛、女性不孕症、失眠、颈部疼痛和肩周炎。在前九十九个适应症中，疼痛是最大的类别；心理健康管理，尤其是情绪障碍方面的需求最大。接下来常见的类别是：免疫系统功能障碍、胃肠道疾病、妇科和神经科。此外，还对每个适应症的专业指数、共性指数以及成为医学专业的潜力进行了评估。人口统计学分析表明，在中国接受培训的针灸师往往有更广泛的适应症范围，但所治疗的主要病症主要由当地需求决定。此外，性别、居住州、年龄和临床经验都会影响适应症的分布。我们的数据首次勾勒出了美国针灸可治疗病症的概况，对针灸培训、医疗管理和公众教育的战略规划具有重要价值。
