A survey study on the use of veterinary acupuncture in the UK and Europe

IF 1.9 2区农林科学 Q2 VETERINARY SCIENCES

Veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia Pub Date : 2025-05-08 DOI:10.1016/j.vaa.2025.05.001

Ming LE. Lai , Hanna Machin , Chiara Adami

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the current use and attitude towards veterinary acupuncture among veterinarians in the UK and Europe.

Study design

A prospective cross-sectional online survey study.

Study population

General practitioners, advanced practitioners and board-certified specialists across the UK and Europe practicing veterinary acupuncture.

Methods

A link to an electronic survey was distributed via personal email invitations and through both veterinary acupuncture associations mail lists/websites and social media. Both the study and the questionnaire were designed following the CHERRIES guidelines; the questionnaire comprised 22 questions covering different aspects of veterinary acupuncture including approaches, techniques, indications, treatment protocols and perceptions on efficacy and safety. Descriptive statistics, analysis of proportions and Cochrane alpha statistics were used for data analysis.

Results

Entries from 104 participants were included in the study. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) was the most practised acupuncture approach (37%), followed by Western acupuncture (31%) and integrative acupuncture, defined as a combination of both (30%). Most acupuncturists reportedly preferred manual acupuncture and case-specific treatment protocols. Overall, acupuncture was primarily used as a complementary therapy for managing chronic pain, mostly in dogs and cats. The proportion of participants using acupuncture for treating gastrointestinal, respiratory and allergic conditions was higher among veterinarians practicing TCM than in those using the Western approach (p < 0.001). The side effect perceived as most likely to occur was lethargy/sedation, followed by pain on needle insertion.

Conclusions and clinical relevance

The findings of this study suggest that the practice of veterinary acupuncture in the UK and Europe varies based on preferred approach and patient factors. Its use as complementary therapy for treatment of chronic pain seems to be common across different countries, acupuncture styles and qualifications of the participants. This variability may be the result of a lack of consensus about the standard of practice.

查看原文本刊更多论文

在英国和欧洲使用兽医针灸的调查研究。

目的：调查英国和欧洲兽医对兽医针灸的使用现状和态度。研究设计：前瞻性横断面在线调查研究。研究人群：在英国和欧洲执业兽医针灸的全科医生，高级医生和委员会认证的专家。方法：通过个人电子邮件邀请、兽医针灸协会邮件列表/网站和社交媒体分发电子调查链接。研究和问卷都是按照樱桃指南设计的；调查问卷包括22个问题，涵盖兽医针灸的不同方面，包括方法、技术、适应症、治疗方案以及对疗效和安全性的看法。数据分析采用描述性统计、比例分析和Cochrane alpha统计。结果：来自104名参与者的条目被纳入研究。中医（TCM）是最常用的针灸方法（37%），其次是西针（31%）和中西医结合针灸（30%）。据报道，大多数针灸师更喜欢手工针灸和针对具体病例的治疗方案。总的来说，针灸主要被用作治疗慢性疼痛的补充疗法，主要用于狗和猫。中医兽医使用针灸治疗胃肠道、呼吸系统和过敏疾病的比例高于西医兽医（p < 0.001）。最可能发生的副作用是嗜睡/镇静，其次是针扎痛。结论和临床意义：本研究的结果表明，兽医针灸在英国和欧洲的实践根据首选方法和患者因素而有所不同。它作为治疗慢性疼痛的补充疗法似乎在不同的国家、针灸风格和参与者的资格中都很常见。这种可变性可能是由于对实践标准缺乏共识造成的。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia 农林科学-兽医学

CiteScore

3.10

自引率

17.60%

发文量

审稿时长

97 days

期刊介绍： Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia is the official journal of the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists, the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia and the European College of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia. Its purpose is the publication of original, peer reviewed articles covering all branches of anaesthesia and the relief of pain in animals. Articles concerned with the following subjects related to anaesthesia and analgesia are also welcome: the basic sciences; pathophysiology of disease as it relates to anaesthetic management equipment intensive care chemical restraint of animals including laboratory animals, wildlife and exotic animals welfare issues associated with pain and distress education in veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia. Review articles, special articles, and historical notes will also be published, along with editorials, case reports in the form of letters to the editor, and book reviews. There is also an active correspondence section.