Physicians’ influence on veterans’ decision to use acupuncture

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ObjectiveTo compare patients’ acupuncture use with physician's attitudes toward and history of referral for acupuncture. MethodsA questionnaire was administered to patients of the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the physicians whom they identified as most influencing their healthcare decisions. A total of 114 patients were matched with 33 physicians. ResultsPhysicians’ history of referral was not significantly related to patients’ acupuncture use. Physicians’ belief that acupuncture would increase patient satisfaction, however, was associated with higher rates of patient acupuncture use (p=0.01). Qualitative analysis of an open-ended question that probed further into physicians’ attitudes regarding acupuncture revealed three key themes: lack of knowledge about the treatment; misperceptions regarding availability of acupuncture at VA; and lack of VA providers to meet demand. ConclusionThese results indicate that physicians’ referral patterns are not associated with patients’ acupuncture use. However, some evidence shows a link between patients’ acupuncture use and physicians’ beliefs that the treatment will increase patient satisfaction, showing that physician attitudes may have some influence on patients’ acupuncture use. Practice implicationsIn order to cultivate shared-decision making between patients and their physicians it will be important to address gaps in provider knowledge about acupuncture and its availability.