Joan Faily1, Doreen Oneschuk. 1. Edmonton Palliative Medicine Program, Regional Palliative Care Consult Team, Health Services Building, Grey Nuns Hospital, 1100 Youville Drive W, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Joan.Faily@capitalhealth.ca
Abstract
GOALS OF WORK: Acupuncture involves the insertion of needles into designated acupuncture points to aid in the treatment of symptoms and to improve health. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A survey was conducted in a tertiary palliative care unit where 50 patients with advanced cancer were surveyed to determine their understanding of, use of, and interest in acupuncture. MAIN RESULTS: Twenty-seven (54%) patients provided an accurate understanding of acupuncture. Although only 30% of patients had previously used acupuncture to treat noncancer medical conditions and only 10% had used it for cancer related symptoms, 80% of patients were interested in seeing an acupuncture practitioner on the care unit if one was made available. CONCLUSIONS: Although few advanced cancer patients on a tertiary palliative care unit had previously received acupuncture, many had a general understanding of this complementary therapy, and expressed an interest in seeing an acupuncture practitioner.
GOALS OF WORK: Acupuncture involves the insertion of needles into designated acupuncture points to aid in the treatment of symptoms and to improve health. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A survey was conducted in a tertiary palliative care unit where 50 patients with advanced cancer were surveyed to determine their understanding of, use of, and interest in acupuncture. MAIN RESULTS: Twenty-seven (54%) patients provided an accurate understanding of acupuncture. Although only 30% of patients had previously used acupuncture to treat noncancer medical conditions and only 10% had used it for cancer related symptoms, 80% of patients were interested in seeing an acupuncture practitioner on the care unit if one was made available. CONCLUSIONS: Although few advanced cancerpatients on a tertiary palliative care unit had previously received acupuncture, many had a general understanding of this complementary therapy, and expressed an interest in seeing an acupuncture practitioner.
Authors: J M Ezzo; M A Richardson; A Vickers; C Allen; S L Dibble; B F Issell; L Lao; M Pearl; G Ramirez; Ja Roscoe; J Shen; J C Shivnan; K Streitberger; I Treish; G Zhang Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2006-04-19