The Acupuncture and Telehealth Survey: A Cross-Sectional Survey Exploring Early COVID-19 Impacts on the Acupuncture Profession.

Introduction: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact workforces in the United States, the Acupuncture and Telehealth Survey was released to assess the acupuncture profession's use of telehealth and workforce response to a changing regulatory landscape. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey of licensed acupuncturists in the United States was conducted in May 2020 for 4 weeks. Novel online recruitment strategies were successfully implemented including social media pages, digital media marketing, and webinar presentations. Statistical analyses were used to ascertain varying impacts on acupuncturists with telehealth training, and the use of online health care platforms, stratified by age, and history of licensure. Results: One thousand forty-five respondents from 46 states completed the survey. The majority of respondents noted a significant reduction in working hours regardless of telehealth training history (mean -18.7 h/week, p < 0.001, 95% confidence interval [-19.5 to -18.0]); however, acupuncturists managing patients online reported a lesser magnitude of impact (mean -17.3, p = 0.004). Respondents noted stress, immune support, and pain as the most common conditions managed through telehealth. Acupuncturists using telehealth primarily educated patients on nutrition- or herbal-based therapies and acupressure techniques, similar to acupuncturists managing suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases. Although only 21% of acupuncturists reported receiving telehealth training, 38% were providing telehealth, and 13% were considering it in the future with concerns for quality patient care. Discussion: Acupuncturists' working hours were significantly reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic although many pivoted to a variety of online health care techniques and profession-specific modalities for continued patient care. This effect could be minimized by the use of telehealth platforms, necessitating adequate training on telehealth in the acupuncture profession.

Pain and Opioid Use: Evidence for Integrating Acupuncture Into Treatment Planning.

The epidemics of pain and opioid use pose unique challenges. Comprehensive approaches are required to address minds, bodies and spirits of individuals who live with pain and/or opioid use. The lack of an effective "quick fix" for either condition necessitates developing effective, innovative and multi-disciplinary avenues for treatment. This analytic article reviews epidemiological and demographic factors associated with pain and with opioid use and additional challenges posed by the Covid-19 epidemic. Several large-scale studies and meta-analyses have examined the role of acupuncture as a nonpharmacological approach to pain management as well as a component of comprehensive strategies to address opioid use disorder. We review and describe these in the context of safety, effectiveness, access and cost-related factors. With one in four U.S. hospitals as well as 88% of Veterans Health Administration facilities incorporating acupuncture, the feasibility of mobilizing and scaling up these treatment resources is being developed and demonstrated. We also identify potential facilitators and barriers to implementing acupuncture treatment. As part of a multi-disciplinary approach to pain management and/or opioid use disorder, we suggest that integrating acupuncture into treatment protocols may represent a viable strategy that is based on and consistent with public health principles.