Development and Assessment of a Basic Acupuncture Curriculum for Pediatricians

Abstract

Objective: Acupuncture has been shown to improve pain and other health outcomes in children and is well tolerated. However, use of acupuncture by pediatric medical providers is rare, in part due to the cost and time associated with formal training. Medical acupuncture certification requires 300 hours of training, costing approximately $11,000 (not including travel costs). Additionally, the training requires 3 weeks of on-site learning, requiring physicians to be away from their homes and medical practices. We aimed to develop an abbreviated basic acupuncture curriculum and assess its impact and acceptability with academic pediatricians. Methods: Thirty-eight pediatricians completed a 10-hour basic acupuncture course, learning 2 acupuncture protocols: Battlefield Acupuncture and Four Gates. Battlefield …