For years it has been viewed
with scepticism and decried by the medical profession as unscientific and unsuitable for
mainstream treatment of NHS patients.
But now a study has shown
that acupuncture is more effective than traditional practice in treating chronic back
pain.
A two-year study of
patients with lower-back pain found the alternative method of applying needles produced
not only improved pain relief, but was more cost-effective.
The report, published in
the British Medical Journal, tracked patients who were divided into groups receiving
traditional methods and acupuncture.
Half were given usual NHS
treatment, including pain relief and physiotherapy. The other half received 10 acupuncture
sessions.
After 12 months, the
acupuncture patients recorded reduced pain levels. After a further 12 months this improved
further.
The report stated:
"At three months, patients in the acupuncture group were significantly more likely to
be 'very satisfied' with their treatment compared with usual care, and with their overall
care.
"At 24 months, the
acupuncture group were more likely to report reduced worry about their back pain, less
likely to report current use of pain medication for their back, and more likely to report
no pain for the past 12 months."
Mike O'Farrell, chief
executive of the British Acupuncture Council, said that the survey was another step along
the way to full acceptance of the profession in the health service.
He said: "Orthodox
medicine has long viewed acupuncture with suspicion, but it is becoming more widely used
by hospitals and GPs.
"This report
establishes the parameters and will help orthodox professionals see acupuncture has many
good things to offer."
An estimated 16% of the
population have attended their GP with back pain in the past year, with direct costs to
the NHS thought to be around £480m.
There is an even higher
financial burden for business and the economy through loss of productivity, with high and
long-term absence rates commonly linked to the condition.
Around 2% of the
population have used acupuncture for a variety of conditions, including back pain.
The authors of the study,
which included Professor Hugh MacPherson of York University, said: "Although the
differences in pain scores between groups were small, they represent a clinically
worthwhile benefit and can be viewed as a 'moderate' effect.
"Further research is
needed to investigate the optimum timing for such an acupunc-ture treatment package, and
to assess the value of repeated courses of acupuncture for patients experiencing recurrent
episodes of low back pain."
A separate study showed
the costs associated with the treatment were well within limits set by the NHS for
determining if a method is affordable.
The cost of treatment was
higher for acupuncture at £460 for the two-year period, compared with £345 for the usual
NHS treatment. But using a system which factors in quality of life over several years, the
cost per quality of life year was £4241, compared with the NHS affordability threshold of
£20,000.
A spokesman for the Royal
College of Physicians said they had no formal view on the use of acupuncture as a
treatment for back pain. |
