title: Use of acupuncture in the USA: changes over a decade (2002-2012).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of acupuncture has gained popularity in the USA. The number of acupuncture users and licensed acupuncturists increased by 50% and 100%, respectively, between 2002 and 2012, coinciding with increasing acknowledgement of the importance and efficacy of acupuncture over this time period.
  
  
  METHODS
  This paper presents new findings from the complementary health approaches section of the 2012 National Health Interview Survey (n=33 373 respondents). In particular, data on the use of acupuncture and user characteristics were compared against data collected from an earlier survey in 2002. Statistical analyses included weighted distribution, logistical regression and Pearson's χ2tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The profile of the most common acupuncture users comprised the following sociodemographics age 41-65 years (47.4%); female gender (69.6%); and non-Hispanic (85.3%) and/or white (78.1%) ethnicity. Respondents also tended to be US citizens (92.1%) with some college education (57.1%) and in very good to excellent health (60.8%). The proportion of respondents using acupuncture for treatment of a specific health problem, as opposed to promotion of general wellness, was 84.7% in 2002 and 55.3% in 2012.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest a growing development of acupuncture in the USA. We anticipate that the findings of our analysis of the changes in acupuncture use over the 10-year period from 2002 to 2012 will provide information for users, acupuncturists, researchers and the general public to help better understand the status of acupuncture and reasons for its usage, and to anticipate future trends for acupuncture use in the USA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, Research Center for Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Exercise and Health Science, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Shaobai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, Research Center for Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jiehui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, Research Center for Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, Research Center for Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jing
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000266:history / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000266:history / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: ACUPUNCTURE; COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE; PUBLIC HEALTH; STATISTICS & RESEARCH METHODS