Degree of search of acupuncture as a therapeutic option in a population sample of Lisbon

• Main Authors: Maria do Céu Costa, Catarina Gonçalves, Cláudia Oliveira, Helena Pinto Ferreira
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: ALIES - Associação Lusófona para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação e do Ensino das Ciências da Saúde 2013-06-01
• Series: Journal Biomedical and Biopharmaceutical Research (BBR)
• Subjects: Acupuncture; Trust; Satisfaction; Main Complaint; Sex and Age Group
• Online Access: http://www.alies.pt/BBR%20Editions/Vol-10-1-2013/Article2_10n1.pdf

This is an exploratory and correlational study, with an initial number of 150 participants using a convenience sampling from five medical clinics and five centers of traditional Chinese medicine in Lisbon, where subjects were allowed to respond voluntarily to questionnaires. A response rate of 74% (N = 111) was achieved. Adherence to acupuncture is higher in females and in the age group 31-50 years (40% men and 48% women). Muscle and joint problems, in addition to psychological disorders are described as the most common reasons for recourse to acupuncture, although it is also referred to as an effective treatment for other types of complaints. However, acupuncture is not the first treatment that the people turn to. It is recognized that results may occur in the medium to long term and after several therapy sessions. This does not seem to affect the study population's perception of the treatment which is shown to be content with very good and/or good value for money (53%). Overall, the majority of the population (93%) relies on the therapy for the good and/or very good (79%) or reasonable (16%) results obtained, and shows trust (88%) in the competences of the health care provider who performs the acupuncture.