title: A qualitative exploration of how patients conceptualise their acupuncturists: Technicians, caring professionals, and wise healers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore how patients conceptualise acupuncturists, the meanings ascribed to the therapeutic relationship and valued therapeutic behaviours.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative study. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews explored patients' experiences of acupuncture. A diverse sample of 35 participants took part; they had used acupuncture for a variety of predominantly chronic conditions. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify themes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Southern England.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants conceptualised acupuncturists in three ways: technician, caring professional, and wise and gifted healer. Each conceptualisation had different implications for patient health. For example, lifestyle advice from a wise healer was seen as inspirational wisdom, while lifestyle advice from a caring professional was seen as evidence of caring. Participants inferred empathy when acupuncturists took a detailed history, took notes during treatment, and provided therapeutic commentaries. Participants inferred knowledge and/or wisdom when acupuncturists made changes to treatments over time, provided explanatory frameworks for their symptoms, and made effective recommendations concerning lifestyle and health behaviours.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings provide novel insights into how patients view acupuncturists, suggesting acupuncture-specific models that do not directly map onto conventional models of doctor-patient relationships. Understanding how patients think about their acupuncturist and make sense of clinical interactions could help acupuncturists to hone their therapeutic skills.
authors: Centre for Applications of Health Psychology, Faculty of Social Human and Mathematical Sciences, Building 44 Highfield Campus, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom. Electronic address: F.L.Bishop@soton.ac.uk.
authors: Felicity L
authors: FL
authors: Bishop
authors: Primary Care and Population Sciences, Aldermoor Health Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO16 5ST, United Kingdom. Electronic address: gl3@soton.ac.uk.
authors: George T
authors: GT
authors: Lewith
mesh_terms: D026881:Acupuncture / Q000379:methods; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: Acupuncture; Doctor-patient communication; Empathy; Qualitative research; Self-care; Therapeutic relationship