Physicians become acupuncture patients--not acupuncturists.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate changes in personal and professional use of acupuncture among physicians in Norway between 1994 and 2004.


METHODS
Postal surveys were used.


METHODS
The study was conducted in Norway.


METHODS
Proportional, stratified, random samples of working members of the Norwegian Medical Association under 71 years of age were chosen to participate. Sampling frame, sample, and, respondents were, respectively 11,728; 1466; and 1135 (77%) in 1994 and 16,462; 1646; and 962 (58%) in 2004.


METHODS
The main outcome measures were personal and professional use of acupuncture, which were analyzed overall and separately for gender, age, and position within a year and between years by multivariate logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
The percentage of physicians having used acupuncture for own disease or complaint has more than doubled, 18% in 2004 versus 8% in 1994 (OR 2.19; p < 0.001) and half of the physicians intended to use acupuncture for own disease or complaint, 55% in 2004 and 53% in 1994 (p = 0.245). Four percent (4%) practiced acupuncture in both years and, in 2004, fewer intended to train in acupuncture, 5% in 2004 versus 8% in 1994 (OR 0.64; p = 0.033). In both years, more than a third recommended acupuncture for migraine, 37% and 41% (p = 0.569).


CONCLUSIONS
Physicians in 2004, compared to 1994, still had positive attitudes toward acupuncture as a therapeutic method, but were rather acupuncture patients than acupuncturists.
Ytrehus
Ingunn Agnete
IA
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway. Ingunn.Ytrehus@fagmed.uit.no
Norheim
Arne Johan
AJ
Emaus
Nina
N
Fønnebø
Vinjar
V
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D009664:Norway; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*