title: Acupuncture and standard emergency department care for pain and/or nausea and its impact on emergency care delivery: a feasibility study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the feasibility of delivering acupuncture in an emergency department (ED) to patients presenting with pain and/or nausea.
  
  
  METHODS
  A feasibility study (with historical controls) undertaken at the Northern Hospital ED in Melbourne, Australia, involving people presenting to ED triage with pain (VAS 0-10) and/or nausea (Morrow Index 1-6) between January and August 2010 (n=400). The acupuncture group comprised 200 patients who received usual medical care and acupuncture; the usual care group comprised 200 patients with retrospective data closely matched from ED electronic health records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Refusal rate was 31%, with 'symptoms under control owing to medical treatment before acupuncture' the most prevalent reason for refusal (n=36); 52.5% of participants responded 'definitely yes' for their willingness to repeat acupuncture, and a further 31.8% responded 'probably yes'. Over half (57%) reported a satisfaction score of 10 for acupuncture treatment. Musculoskeletal conditions were the most common conditions treated n=117 (58.5%), followed by abdominal or flank pain n=49 (24.5%). Adverse events were rare (2%) and mild. Pain and nausea scores reduced from a mean±SD of 7.01±2.02 before acupuncture to 4.72±2.62 after acupuncture and from 2.6±2.19 to 1.42±1.86, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acupuncture in the ED appears safe and acceptable for patients with pain and/or nausea. Results suggest combined care may provide effective pain and nausea relief in ED patients. Further high-quality, sufficiently powered randomised studies evaluating the cost-effectiveness and efficacy of the add-on effect of acupuncture are recommended.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Anthony L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Shefton J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.affiliation: Emergency and Trauma Centre, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: De Villiers
authors.initials: de V
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: David McD
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Charlie C L
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Xue
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000628:therapy*; D059408:Pain Management; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: ACCIDENT & EMERGENCY MEDICINE; ACUPUNCTURE; COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE; PAIN MANAGEMENT; PAIN RESEARCH