Dr. Federico I. García Family Physician H.I.B.A. The use of acupunture as complementary therapy integral to treat patients Dr. Federico I. García Family Physician H.I.B.A.

introduction Acupuncture is accepted in most of the world Is a medical act acknowledged benefit in the treatment of diferents diseases by doctors and patients WHO supports the use of alternative medicines when they have been proved to be useful for the patient and have no side effects seases by doctors and patients

However… in Argentina Is not recognized by private health system Is not recognized by public health system Hospital Italiano in B.A. introduce is a pioneer in the recognition of this practice

A little history… Acupuncture is a traditional discipline in the Chinese medicine its has been used since five thousand years ago The oldest publication about classical Acupuncture data from three thousand years A.C. and this book is the first sistemic description of this practice, a Canon of Internal Medicine, called "Huang Di Nei Jing"

More history… In the seventeenth century, acupuncture arrived to Europa and the American Continent. This discipline has official recognition in many countries as Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Argentina and it has been added to the Public Health System in Europe, Japan, United States and Canada.

objetives Determining who are the beneficiaries of this therapy Knowing the main conditions treted with this method Determining the level of satisfaction expressed by patients

Description This practice is developed in H.I.B.A. It´s performed by family physicians and clinical medical Patients are referred by a primary care phisycian, orthopedic surgeons, rheumatologist and other medical professionals Treatments are held in ten sessions on a weekly basis Were analyzed adult patients treated during 2012

Results 180 patients were treated 20 patients (11,1%) gave up in the early sessions 160 patients completed the treatment 110 patients(68,75%) were women and 50 men

More results… The most frecuent reason for consultation was pain. 41 % of patients were over 70 years old Many patients had more than one health condition The most frecuent reason for consultation was pain. The majority of referrals are patients who were not benefitiary with standard medicene treatments

Pain ! Spinal pain complete 60% Lower back pain 26% Cervical pain 27%

Other complaints Shoulder pain ( 7%) Knee pain (7%) Anxiety disorder (14%) Fibromyalgia (4%) Headache (4%) Dyspepsia, carpal tunnel syndrome, rizarthrosis, dizziness, among others.

level of patient satisfaction Measure between the eight and tenth sessions 81% reported being very satisfied with the treatment (130 patients) 12% reported being satisfied (20 patients) 5% were not very satisfied ( 8 patients) 1% were dissatisfied (2 patients)

Conclusions… The incorporation of these disciplines and the recognition by public and private providers is of unspeakable value for the patient treatment and health care

Applicability… - Incorporation of these practices as part of the formal health system in order to benefit a larger number of patients - Incrising accessibility to complementary medicine - This type of complementary practices, has wide acceptance among patients and generates a high level of user satisfaction

federico.garcia@hospitalitaliano.org.ar Thank you Very much!!!