Chant Benjamin, Madison Jeanne, Coop Paul, Dieberg Gudrun
University of New England, Australia.
Integr Med Res. 2019 Mar;8(1):62-69. doi: 10.1016/j.imr.2018.08.003. Epub 2018 Aug 25.
Japanese acupuncture is gaining international recognition. However, previous research has failed to comprehensively describe the characteristics of Japanese acupuncture by not investigating it within the Japanese clinical environment. This qualitative ethnographic study aimed to identify unique and routine elements of Japanese acupuncture, describe these in detail and examine how they related to treatment principles.
Between August 2012 and December 2016, ethnographic fieldwork was conducted in Japan. Participants were recruited by chain referral and emergent sampling. Data were collected through participant observation and interviews as well as by analyzing documents. A total of 38 participants were recruited. A total of 22 agreed to clinical observation; 221 treatments were observed with 172 patients. Seventeen participants consented to participate in formal interviews and 28 to informal interviews. Thematic analysis was used to evaluate data.
That practitioners tended to confirm perceived effects of interventions during treatment, was a major theme interpreted from the data. Confirmation was performed continually throughout treatment and at three different levels of timing and anatomical areas (micro, meso and macro). Many markers signified treatment effects which were in general, perceived by observing and/or palpating body tissue. Belief in the instantaneous effects of treatment and the value of effect through technique exemplify the philosophical foundations of confirmation. Continually monitoring treatment results at a range of time and body location increments is an important element of Japanese acupuncture.
This effect confirmation practice model promotes a system of constant feedback gained by repeated intervention and confirmation. This may be a unique feature of Japanese acupuncture.
日本针灸正获得国际认可。然而，以往的研究未能在日本临床环境中对其进行调查，从而未能全面描述日本针灸的特点。这项定性民族志研究旨在确定日本针灸的独特和常规要素，详细描述这些要素，并研究它们与治疗原则的关系。
2012年8月至2016年12月期间，在日本进行了民族志实地调查。通过连锁推荐和偶遇抽样招募参与者。通过参与观察、访谈以及分析文件收集数据。共招募了38名参与者。共有22人同意接受临床观察；对172名患者进行了221次治疗观察。17名参与者同意参加正式访谈，28名同意参加非正式访谈。采用主题分析法对数据进行评估。
从业者倾向于在治疗过程中确认干预措施的感知效果，这是从数据中解读出的一个主要主题。在整个治疗过程中，在三个不同的时间和解剖区域水平（微观、中观和宏观）持续进行确认。许多标志物表明了治疗效果，这些效果通常是通过观察和/或触摸身体组织感知到的。对治疗即时效果的信念以及通过技术实现效果的价值体现了确认的哲学基础。在一系列时间和身体位置增量上持续监测治疗结果是日本针灸的一个重要要素。
这种效果确认实践模式促进了通过反复干预和确认获得的持续反馈系统。这可能是日本针灸的一个独特特征。
