First Research Experiences with Chinese-Style Acupuncture Inside Lithuanian Rehabilitation Centre in Klaipeda

Abstract

Acupuncture is one of the oldest complementary therapies used to treat chronic pain. WHO in Review and Analysis of Reports on Controlled Clinical Trials about Acupuncture note that researches on acupuncture are extremely difficult to conduct. It is already proved that acupuncture analgesia works better than a placebo for most kinds of pain [1]. Since the l970’s there has been a sharp increase in global scientific acupuncture research [4]. However, in Lithuania we still lack both research and training programs for physicians at University level. Klaipeda University Health Sciences Faculty wished to conduct a pilot test of the feasibility of providing acupuncture training in the rehabilitation hospital setting. Method. Ten patients received a short course of acupuncture at the Rehabilitation Centre atKlaipeda Seamen’s Hospital. Interested physicians were invited to observe. Pre- and post-qualitative data were collected. Results and conclusions. Patients reported positive experiences with acupuncture and improvement of symptoms. Physicians re-ported growing professional interest in acupuncture. No barriers to providing acupuncture training in the setting of a Rehabilitation hospital were identified.