Acupuncture in Australian general practice: practitioner characteristics.

Autor: Easthope G; Department of Sociology and Social Work, University of Tasmania, Hobart. Gary.Easthope@utas.edu.au, Beilby JJ, Gill GF, Tranter BK
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: The Medical journal of Australia [Med J Aust] 1998 Aug 17; Vol. 169 (4), pp. 197-200.
DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1998.tb140221.x
Abstrakt: Objectives: To ascertain the extent of the use of acupuncture and the characteristics of general practitioners using acupuncture.
Design: Secondary analysis of 1996 Health Insurance Commission data on claims by all non-specialist medical practitioners for Medicare Benefits Schedule items for an attendance where acupuncture was performed by a medical practitioner.
Main Outcome Measures: Use of acupuncture by general practitioners and the practitioners' sex, age, place of primary medical qualification, and the socioeconomic disadvantage index of the practitioners' practice.
Results: 15.1% of general practitioners claimed for acupuncture. Acupuncture was more likely to be provided by male practitioners, by those aged 35-54 years, and by practitioners who have an overseas primary medical qualification. The socioeconomic index of the practice did not significantly affect the number of claims for acupuncture.
Conclusion: Acupuncture is used by about one in seven general practitioners. Its use is associated with middle-aged practitioners, who presumably have more clinical experience. This level of use by experienced doctors suggests that a critical review of the appropriate role of acupuncture in general practice should be considered.
Databáze: MEDLINE
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