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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Carla Wilson, MA, L Ac, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Dept., Quan Yin Healing Arts Center, 455 Valencia Street, San francisco, CA 94103, 415 572 8313, QYHAC@aol.com

Background: The Living with Hepatitis C Project (LHCP) was developed to address the rapidly growing public health issue of hepatitis C (HCV). This project was designed to create access to complementary alternative therapies for HCV+ people who are poor or have no health benefits. The purpose of the project was to investigate the impact of accessibility to acupuncture treatment, evaluate response to symptom management associated with HCV and assess utilization of self-care instruction.

Methods: From January 2003 – February 2005, 1260 acupuncture treatments were provided for 63 clients enrolled in the project. Quality of life surveys and self-evaluation surveys were distributed and 33 surveys were collected and analyzed, and 12 self-care HCV education seminars were presented for clients taking part in the project.

Results: As result of the LHCP 63 people were able to access acupuncture care that other wise could not have afforded treatment. Self-Evaluation Surveys evaluated 14 commonly experienced symptoms experienced by people living with HCV. Of the 33 clients surveyed, 56% indicated improvement. Analysis of the client Self-Evaluation Surveys indicated that 45% of surveyed clients determined that they were much improved and 30% stated that they had experienced an improvement in quality of life.

Conclusion: Data was gathered showing that people living with HCV would take advantage of acupuncture treatment and viewed it as complementary to western care. Self-Evaluation surveys showed that clients reposed to treatment and management of HCV symptoms and that health education was a valued component of the project.

Learning Objectives: