Li Dongcheng, Karp Karen
Global TCM, Davie, Florida, USA.
School of Education, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Med Acupunct. 2025 Apr 17;37(2):155-165. doi: 10.1089/acu.2024.0042. eCollection 2025 Apr.
There is often a disconnect between standard medical treatment in the United States and complementary therapies such as acupuncture. While acupuncture has gained public attention, its integration into mainstream U.S. healthcare remains limited. Physicians rarely refer patients to acupuncture, and the profession is not well integrated into the American healthcare system. Despite the increasing number of licensed non-physician acupuncturists and accredited acupuncture programs, practitioners in private outpatient settings face significant challenges when attempting to integrate into inpatient hospital environments.
This study aims to identify the opportunities and barriers to mainstreaming acupuncture in the U.S. healthcare system by conducting a needs assessment among both licensed non-physician acupuncturists and mainstream medical practitioners.
A mixed-methods design was employed, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis. Licensed acupuncturists and mainstream medical professionals participated in surveys and interviews to assess the factors influencing acupuncture's integration into mainstream medicine.
Findings from the needs assessment highlighted several barriers to acupuncture integration. Key challenges included inconsistencies in professional competence among acupuncture practitioners, particularly in terms of knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as a lack of awareness among mainstream medical professionals regarding reliable, evidence-based acupuncture treatments.
The results underscore the need for standardization in acupuncture education and greater awareness of its evidence-based benefits among mainstream medical professionals. Addressing these barriers may facilitate acupuncture's integration into the U.S. healthcare system and improve interdisciplinary collaboration in patient care.
在美国，标准医学治疗与针灸等补充疗法之间常常脱节。尽管针灸已受到公众关注，但其在美国主流医疗保健中的整合程度仍然有限。医生很少将患者转介至针灸治疗，该行业也未能很好地融入美国医疗保健系统。尽管获得执照的非医师针灸师数量不断增加，且针灸课程也得到认证，但私人门诊环境中的从业者在试图融入住院医院环境时仍面临重大挑战。
本研究旨在通过对获得执照的非医师针灸师和主流医学从业者进行需求评估，确定针灸在美国医疗保健系统中实现主流化的机遇和障碍。
采用混合方法设计，纳入定量和定性数据的收集与分析。有执照的针灸师和主流医学专业人员参与了调查和访谈，以评估影响针灸融入主流医学的因素。
需求评估的结果突出了针灸整合的几个障碍。关键挑战包括针灸从业者专业能力的不一致，特别是在知识、技能和能力方面，以及主流医学专业人员对可靠的、基于证据的针灸治疗缺乏认识。
结果强调了针灸教育标准化的必要性，以及主流医学专业人员对其基于证据的益处要有更高的认识。克服这些障碍可能有助于针灸融入美国医疗保健系统，并改善患者护理中的跨学科合作。
