Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2006; 11: 57
To assess the popularity of acupuncture and characteristics of acupuncture patients in Japan. (We define ‘acupuncture’ as a combined treatment of acupuncture and moxibustion because these two therapies are inseparable in the actual Japanese practice.)
We conducted a nationwide, random-sampled and population-weighted telephone survey in February, 2005. The sample size of respondents was 2000. Questioning was performed based on a semi-structured question/answer form. Respondents were asked questions about their experience of acupuncture in 2004 and lifetime, coverage of health insurance, conditions treated, reasons for choosing (or not choosing) acupuncture, etc. as well as general socio-demographics.
During 12 months in 2004, 6.1 % of the respondents had experienced acupuncture and 32% had experienced this therapy in their lifetime. In 38% of the acupuncture patients in 2004, the cost was reimbursed at least partly by insurance. Most of the patients had received acupuncture for musculoskeletal problems. As for the people who had not experienced acupuncture (68%), the reasons included some misunderstandings about acupuncture.
Although acupuncture is more popular in Japan than the West, conditions treated are not based on evidence published in medical journals. The results suggest that there is a need for educating the public about basic knowledge of acupuncture, conditions treatable and the reimbursement system.
