title: The use of acupuncture in maternity care: a pilot study evaluating the acupuncture service in an Australian hospital antenatal clinic.
abstract: This paper outlines an exploratory study charting the circumstances of use and patient perspectives regarding the acupuncture service offered in an antenatal clinic at an Australian public hospital. Study participants were recruited from women attending the antenatal clinic. Upon completion of their course of acupuncture treatment, 52 women were given a questionnaire, of which 37 (71%) were completed and returned. Of the 37 women who attended the acupuncture clinic, 18 (49%) had previously used at least one form of complementary medicine/therapy. The most common reason for treatment was physiological symptoms including back pain, symphysis pubis dysfunction and sciatica. All 37 women stated that the acupuncture improved their well-being and this finding was statistically significant (P<0.001). These findings are offered as a means of identifying potential issues for future investigation in this under-researched area.
authors.affiliation: Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hope-Allan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sibbritt
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tracy
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000451:nursing*; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000592:standards; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000451:nursing*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome