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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Dawn M. Upchurch, PhD¹, Claire Dye, MSPH¹, Laura Chyu, MA¹, and Gail A. Greendale, MD². (1) School of Public Health Department of Community Health Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, (310) 794-9693, upchurch@ucla.edu, (2) Department of Geriatrics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Box 951687, 2339 PVUB, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1687

Interest in acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) among American health consumers continues to grow and there is increasing evidence that acupuncture is an effective treatment for a number of health problems. TCM is a complete medical system that utilizes diagnostic and treatment procedures distinct from conventional medicine. Specifically, patients are clinically evaluated using four examinations— looking (including tongue diagnosis), listening/smelling, asking, and touching (including radial pulse reading). TCM has its own signs and symptoms nomenclature (e.g., 5 palm heat), that when used together, help to develop a specific TCM diagnosis. Treatment is then based on these specific TCM diagnoses. The purpose of this study is to investigate the extent to which sample of acupuncturists in Los Angeles agrees upon the diagnostic and treatment criteria for a specific TCM condition often present in postmenopausal women experiencing hot flashes. Results are based on a snowball, convenience sample of licensed acupuncturists practicing in Los Angeles for more than 5 years and who specialize in women's health. Twenty acupuncturists were solicited and all responded by completing two self-administered questionnaires. Preliminary results show that acupuncturists generally agreed with respect to the specific signs and symptoms that characterize the TCM condition. There was good agreement with respect to overall treatment recommendations (e.g., meridians recommended for treatments, such as Kidney). There was somewhat less agreement with respect to specific acupoints and/or combination of points, although some particular acupoints were commonly mentioned (e.g., SP6, LV3, KI3, UB23). Demographic and training background of the acupuncturists is also presented.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand basic principles of diagnosis and treatment in the Traditional Chinese Medical System.
• Describe the diagnostic and treatment criteria used to identify a common TCM condition.
• Summarize the major findings from the study.
• Consider public health policy and health care delivery implications as well as directions for future research.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No