Medical Acupuncture最新文献

Background: The integration of new technologies into medical education is transforming the learning landscape, particularly in acupuncture education. The necessity for remote learning due to the pandemic has accelerated the development of digital tools, such as anatomical software, to replace traditional in-person classes. In response to these changes, Dongguk University in Korea has developed AcupointDG, a three-dimensional (3D) visualized anatomy model software designed to enhance the understanding of acupoints and their associated neurovascular musculature. This software provides a comprehensive view of the human body's anatomical structures related to acupuncture points and links to relevant research, aiding students in gaining a realistic and evidence-based understanding of acupuncture. The main features include detailed 3D anatomical representations and direct access to scientific literature through PubMed and Research Information Sharing Service (RISS).

Conclusions: The use of this software in the Acupoint and Practice class has resulted in significant educational outcomes, including student publications and presentations at international conferences. Future updates aim to further integrate research trends with anatomical visualization, enhancing the educational experience and professional development of acupuncture students.

Japanese acupuncture and moxibustion (AM) originated in ancient China; however, it gradually became unique to Japan. Regarding the education of acupuncturists/moxibustionists (AMists), ancient Chinese classical theory is reverenced; however, the content being taught largely incorporates modern Western medicine. In this study, we focused on the current school curriculum, national examinations, postgraduate education, and certification systems for physicians and nonphysician AMists. In Japan, only physicians, dentists, or AMists are licensed to practice AM; however, AM has recently been mostly practiced by nonphysician AMists. Medical students are only slightly exposed to AM in their undergraduate curricula; therefore, only a few physicians practice AM. Notably, some universities or public hospitals offer postgraduate education on AM; however, the system has been insufficiently available to both physicians and AMists. Each society has a certification system for physicians and AMists to be recognized as Kampo (Japanese traditional medicine that is primarily a herbal medicine-based treatment) specialists and certified AMists, respectively; however, there is no AM certification system for physicians. Therefore, enhancing undergraduate and postgraduate education for medical AM practitioners is a future challenge.

Background: With the global recognition of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acupuncture has gained widespread acceptance. However, training and assessing procedural skills in acupuncture, particularly for international students, remain challenging. The Direct Observation of Procedural Skills (DOPS) is a clinical assessment tool that provides real-time feedback, offering a potential solution to enhance practical skill development.

Objective: This study evaluates the effectiveness of DOPS in improving practical skills, clinical thinking, and overall teaching quality among international acupuncture students.

Methods: The study was conducted at the School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. A DOPS-based assessment scale was developed following the Technical Benchmark of Acupuncture and Moxibustion: Filiform Needle (2023). DOPS was applied through a three-stage process (preparation, operation, and feedback) to assess acupuncture preparation, needle insertion, manipulation, and disinfection. Feedback addressed deficiencies to enhance learning outcomes.

Results: DOPS significantly improved international students' practical skills, operational proficiency, and critical thinking. Teachers and students reported high satisfaction with the system, which also facilitated the integration of theory with practice. Students refined their clinical skills and excelled in national competitions.

Conclusions: DOPS is an effective tool for acupuncture skills training, providing standardized, real-time feedback that enhances teaching quality and bridges gaps in clinical practice. Future advancements, such as virtual reality and artificial intelligence, could further optimize the system and advance international acupuncture education.

Background: Early exposure to medical acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in medical education fosters a well-rounded understanding of integrative medicine. For over two decades, Stanford University has offered acupuncture and TCM education in its curriculum, aiming to enhance students' understanding of acupuncture's scientific and traditional foundations and its clinical applications.

Methods: We describe two courses and their learning goals and curricula: 1) a medical acupuncture course for medical students launched in 1997 and 2) a foundation of TCM course for undergraduates launched in 2002. These courses are housed within the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine at Stanford University's School of Medicine.

Results: The medical acupuncture course encompasses theoretical and practical aspects of acupuncture, including principles of TCM, meridian theory, and evidence-based applications. Students engage in practical skill development, research analysis, and final paper presentations to consolidate their learning. The course integrates hands-on workshops, lectures, and discussions, with evolving content to reflect contemporary research. The TCM foundations course covers essential elements of TCM, including its historical evolution, meridian theory, and the five elements theory. These foundational concepts are contextualized within cultural, philosophical, and lifestyle factors to provide a holistic understanding of TCM and its study using modern biomedical techniques. Both courses have had annual enrollments of 10-30 students and continue to receive outstanding feedback from participants.

Conclusions: Integrating acupuncture into the medical education context broadens students' understanding of treatment options, enabling them to deliver more holistic patient care. Stanford University remains committed to cultivating future healthcare leaders equipped to incorporate acupuncture and related complementary therapies into modern clinical practice.

This article will attempt to discuss acupuncture training for dentists. The use of acupuncture by dentists is regulated by each individual state within the United States, and outside of the U.S., acupuncture is usually regulated by countries. Acupuncture training for dentists can be safely and effectively accomplished in 25 hours.

Introduction: Given the interest in acupuncture expressed by many medical students (MSs) worldwide, the challenge is how to introduce acupuncture in medical training. In this article, we present our experience of training MSs from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) at the Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine Center, 316th Medical Group, Joint Base Andrews, Marland 20762.

Curriculum: Rotating MS are given the opportunity of an elective rotation with the diverse styles of five physician medical acupuncturists and two licensed acupuncturists. MSs experience an acupuncture referral clinic and acupuncture in a primary care clinic. MSs are given acupuncture didactics, as it may apply to medical specialties and integrative medicine topics. They participate in group practice acupuncture sessions. Included in the rotation is Battlefield Acupuncture certification.

Results: The elective clinical rotation offered to USUHS has produced 13 MS rotators yearly for the past 3 years. There appears to be strong postrotation interest in incorporating acupuncture into their future allopathic medical specialty.

Discussion: Many previous acupuncture elective USUHS students apply for the United States Air Force Medical Acupuncture Scholar Program to attend a 300-h certified acupuncture training course after obtaining their medical doctor degree and post-specialty training. There have been 20 applicants per year in the past 3 years from 15 medical specialties. Western medicine may be improved by the incorporation of acupuncture in all facets of medical care. Whether seeing a primary care provider or a specialist, patients should have acupuncture available to expand treatment options. Acupuncture may offer an attraction to allopathic physicians to increase their scope of practice. Incorporating acupuncture also appears to decrease physician burnout by reducing depersonalization.

Conclusion: The elective acupuncture rotation of USUHS MS at the United States Air Force Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine Center, Joint Base Andrews, is utilized near capacity as a 4^th-year elective.