Southern medical journal
-
Southern medical journal · May 2001
Multicenter StudyAcupuncture for chronic low back pain: diagnosis and treatment patterns among acupuncturists evaluating the same patient.
There is increasing need to examine the effectiveness of acupuncture and other alternative therapies for common conditions. However, little attention has focused on the variability in acupuncturists' assessment, diagnosis, and treatment patterns. ⋯ Seven acupuncturists agreed considerably in the diagnoses for the same patient with chronic low back pain, but treatment recommendations varied substantially. Clinicians and researchers must recognize treatment recommendation variations and the challenges they present for study design and interpretation.