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Research: MACPHERSON and colleagues,
Listed in Issue 103
Abstract
MACPHERSON and colleagues, Foundation for Traditional Chinese Medicine, 296 Tadcaster Road, York YO24 1ET, UK, hugh@ftcm.org.uk, present an exploratory study on the experience of acupuncture patients with a focus on empathy, enablement, and outcome.
Background
The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate relationships between patients' perceptions of practitioner empathy, patient enablement, and health outcome in people who had been treated with acupuncture.
Methodology
In this retrospective, observational study, questionnaires were distributed to 192 patients randomly selected from a population of acupuncture patients who had participated in a previous survey. The outcome measures included the Consultation and Relational Empathy Measure, the Patient Enablement Instrument, and the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital Outcome Scale.
Results
74% of patients responded. Patient enablement was significantly correlated with perception of their practitioners' empathy (Spearman's rho = 0.256, p < 0.01), and enablement was significantly correlated with outcome of both the main complaint and general wellbeing (rho = 0.457 and 0.521, respectively, p < 0.0001). Empathy and enablement scores were not influenced by age of patients or their reason for attendance, but men showed significantly lower perception of practitioner empathy than women.
Conclusion
Patients' perception of their acupuncture practitioners' empathy is significantly associated with their experience of being enabled which in turn significantly correlates with positive health outcomes.
References
MacPherson H, Mercer SW< Scullion T, Thomas KJ. Empathy, enablement, and outcome: an exploratory study on acupuncture patients' perceptions. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 9 (6): 869-876, Dec 2003.
Comment
The above published research illustrates examples of how acupuncture is being investigated, both as a direct treatment, i.e. for the alleviation of symptoms following transabdominal hysterectomy, as well as how patient health and wellbeing is influenced by practitioner empathy.
