The use of acupuncture and attitudes to regulation among doctors in the UK--a survey.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the usage of acupuncture by members of British Medical Acupuncture Society (BMAS) in their daily work, in the course of a survey of attitudes to regulation of the acupuncture profession.


METHODS
A brief questionnaire survey of all members was conducted in December 2002.


RESULTS
After a single mailing, 1112 members responded (a response rate of 48%). Seventy-five percent of these were general practitioners. The majority were in support of a regulatory process. Ninety percent of respondents indicated that they use acupuncture in their practice, giving an average of about eight treatments per week. Sixty-one percent of these treatments are given within the National Health Service (NHS) at no cost to the patient.


CONCLUSIONS
It is estimated that BMAS members provide a total of about one million acupuncture treatments each year, of which well over half a million are given within the NHS.
Price
Julian
J
British Medical Acupuncture Society.
White
Adrian
A
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013222:State Medicine / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom