title: Acupuncture in palliative care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Acupuncture involves the insertion of needles into designated acupuncture points to aid in the treatment of symptoms and to improve health.
  
  
  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.
  
  
  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.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Faily
authors.forename: Doreen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oneschuk
mesh_terms: D026881:Acupuncture; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000416:Alberta; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D010166:Palliative Care