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. 2021 Jan 19;18(2):834.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18020834.

The Role of Research in Guiding Treatment for Women's Health: A Qualitative Study of Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncturists

Mike Armour  1 , Debra Betts  1 , Kate Roberts  1 , Susanne Armour  1 , Caroline A Smith  1
Affiliations

The Role of Research in Guiding Treatment for Women's Health: A Qualitative Study of Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncturists

Mike Armour et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: Surveys of acupuncture practitioners worldwide have shown an increase in the use of acupuncture to treat women's health conditions over the last ten years. Published studies have explored the effectiveness of acupuncture for various conditions such as period pain, fertility, and labor induction. However, it is unclear what role, if any, peer-reviewed research plays in guiding practice.

Methods: Acupuncturists with a significant women's health caseload were interviewed online in three small groups to explore factors that contribute to acupuncturists' clinical decision made around treatment approaches and research.

Results: Eleven practitioners participated in the focus groups. The overarching theme that emerged was one of 'Not mainstream but a stream.' This captured two themes relating to acupuncture as a distinct practice: 'working with what you've got' as well as 'finding the right lens', illustrating practitioners' perception of research needing to be more relevant to clinical practice.

Conclusions: Acupuncture practitioners treating women's health conditions reported a disconnect between their clinical practice and the design of clinical trials, predominantly due to what they perceived as a lack of individualization of treatment. Case histories were popular as a learning tool and could be used to support increasing research literacy.

Keywords: Chinese medicine; acupuncture; case reports; clinical trials; women’s health.

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Conflict of interest statement

As a medical research institute, NICM Health Research Institute receives research grants and donations from foundations, universities, government agencies, and industry. Sponsors and donors provide untied and tied funding for work to advance the vision and mission of the Institute. This study was not specifically supported by donor or sponsor funding to NICM.

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