• 作者：S.D. Klein ; ^{praxis@effipunktur.ch}
• 关键词：Acupuntura ; Qigong ; MTC ; medicina complementaria ; expectativas
• 刊名：Revista Internacional de Acupuntura
• 出版年：2010
• 期刊代码：pca321_18878369
• 类别：med
• 出版时间：January-March 2010
• 卷：4
• 期：1
• 页码：18-23
• 文件大小：314 K

Background

Traditional chinese medicine (TCM) and especially acupuncture are popular complementary treatment modalities in Switzerland. However, little is known about why patients choose these methods, and what they expect from the treatment.

Objective

A qualitative survey was used to identify reasons for choosing TCM, knowledge about its range of indications, and patients鈥?expectations towards method and therapist.

Methods

38 patients newly enrolled for treatment in 7 different practices for TCM (6 for acupuncture, 1 for qigong) agreed to fill out a questionnaire. Questions were asked in an open way, i.e. without predetermined answers. Answers were then categorised and analysed by frequency.

Results

The most common reason for choosing TCM is recommendation by friends, followed by the desire to try a new treatment and the perception of TCM as a gentle and natural method. The majority of respondents have poor knowledge about methods associated with TCM and the possible range of conditions to be treated. Therapists are expected to have professional competence, provide information and empathy.

Conclusions

Patients in this survey have partially given other reasons for choosing acupuncture or qigong as treatment modalities than patients who participated in previous studies in the UK and the United States. Results from other countries can therefore not directly be transferred. The present qualitative survey can be used as starting point for future studies which could provide a better understanding of patients鈥?expectations and the need for more precise information about TCM.