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Acupuncture in Australian general practice: practitioner characteristics
Author(s) -
Easthope Gary,
Tranter Bruce K,
Beilby Justin J,
Gill Gerard F
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1998.tb140221.x
Subject(s) - acupuncture , medicine , attendance , family medicine , general practice , alternative medicine , socioeconomic status , disadvantage , clinical practice , population , environmental health , pathology , political science , law , economics , economic growth
Objectives: To ascertain the extent of the use of acupuncture and the characteristics of general practitioners using acupuncture. Design: Secondary analysis of 1996 Health Insurance Commission data on claims by all non‐specialist medical practitioners for Medicare Benefits Schedule items for an attendance where acupuncture was performed by a medical practitioner. Main outcome measures: Use of acupuncture by general practitioners and the practitioners' sex, age, place of primary medical qualification, and the socioeconomic disadvantage index of the practitioners' practice. Results: 15.1% of general practitioners claimed for acupuncture. Acupuncture was more likely to be provided by male practitioners, by those aged 35–4 years, and by practitioners who have an overseas primary medical qualification. The socioeconomic index of the practice did not significantly affect the number of claims for acupuncture. Conclusion: Acupuncture is used by about one in seven general practitioners. Its use is associated with middle‐aged practitioners, who presumably have more clinical experience. This level of use by experienced doctors suggests that a critical review of the appropriate role of acupuncture in general practice should be considered.