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Acupuncture in palliative care

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Supportive Care in Cancer Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Goals of work

Acupuncture involves the insertion of needles into designated acupuncture points to aid in the treatment of symptoms and to improve health.

Materials and methods

A survey was conducted in a tertiary palliative care unit where 50 patients with advanced cancer were surveyed to determine their understanding of, use of, and interest in acupuncture.

Main results

Twenty-seven (54%) patients provided an accurate understanding of acupuncture. Although only 30% of patients had previously used acupuncture to treat noncancer medical conditions and only 10% had used it for cancer related symptoms, 80% of patients were interested in seeing an acupuncture practitioner on the care unit if one was made available.

Conclusions

Although few advanced cancer patients on a tertiary palliative care unit had previously received acupuncture, many had a general understanding of this complementary therapy, and expressed an interest in seeing an acupuncture practitioner.

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Fig. 1

Notes

  1. Personal Communication, L. Kashuba, Clinical Supervisor, Tertiary Palliative Care Unit, Grey Nuns Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta.

  2. The second author is trained in acupuncture.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Edmonton Palliative Medicine Program, Regional Palliative Care Consult Team, Health Services Building, Grey Nuns Hospital, 1100 Youville Drive W, Edmonton, AB, T6L 5X8, Canada

    Joan Faily

  2. Edmonton, Palliative Medicine Program, Tertiary Palliative Care Unit, Grey Nuns Hospital, 1100 Youville Drive W, Edmonton, AB, T6L 5X8, Canada

    Doreen Oneschuk

Authors
  1. Joan Faily
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  2. Doreen Oneschuk
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Doreen Oneschuk.

Appendix

Appendix

A survey of advanced cancer patients’ understanding, use of, and interest in acupuncture for cancer-related symptoms

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Faily, J., Oneschuk, D. Acupuncture in palliative care. Support Care Cancer 15, 1003–1007 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-007-0294-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-007-0294-z

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