title: Acupuncture in Australian general practice: patient characteristics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To ascertain the incidence of acupuncture claims and the characteristics of patients claiming for acupuncture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary analysis of Health Insurance Commission data on claims for acupuncture performed by a medical practitioner.
  
  
  METHODS
  A summary of all Medicare acupuncture claims for financial years 1984-85 to 1996-97 and a random sample of patients claiming a Medicare rebate in calendar year 1996.
  
  
  METHODS
  Claims for acupuncture by patients' State, sex, age, and the socioeconomic disadvantage index of patients' residences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 1984-85 and 1996-97 the number of acupuncture claims increased, but declined as a proportion of total Medicare claims. In 1996, 1.16% of patients claimed for acupuncture, which constituted 0.5% of all Medicare claims. Adjusting for age and socioeconomic disadvantage, women were more likely than men to claim for acupuncture (odds ratio, 1.40; 95% confidence interval, 1.36-1.45). This sex difference is proportionately greater than that for all medical services. Propensity to claim for acupuncture increased with age, peaking at 65-69 years, then declining. Acupuncture claims were more likely in areas just above those assessed as having the greatest social disadvantage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The number of acupuncture claims has increased since 1984. As a proportion of all Medicare claims, acupuncture has remained stable since declining in 1991-92. This suggests that acupuncture is now an established complementary medical practice.
authors.affiliation: School of Sociology and Social Work, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS. Gary.Easthope@utas.edu.au
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Easthope
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Beilby
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Tranter
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007345:Insurance Claim Review; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D006278:Medicare; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States