Investigation into the State of Clinical Education and Training for Anma-Massage-Shiatsu, Acupuncture and Moxibustion in Japan-Actual Conditions of Schools for the Visually impaired and a Colleges for General Population- / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

[objective] Using a questionnaire survey, we investigated the state of clinical training for Anma-Massage-Shiatsu, Acupuncture and Moxibustion at Japanese acupuncture school training centers (included were schools for the blind and colleges for the non visually impaired) <BR>[DesignandMethods] We sent a 5 point questionnaire consisting of 49 questions concerning the state of clinicaltraining to 121 acupuncture schools in Japan. All these schools are listed in the 2002' List of Colleges published by the Foundation for Training and Licensure Examination in Anma-Massage-Shiatsu, Acupuncture and Moxibustion.<BR>[Results] The response rate was 82.6% (100/121). Ninety-two schools have Acupuncture clinics open to the publicand 7 schools have Western Medical Clinics. Twenty-four percent of the schools in the survey have not registered their acupuncture clinics with the Governor of the Prefecture. Of the schools that responded 93.1% used disposable acupuncture needles, although 85.2% of the schools did not use needles only once, as recommended. While 49.4% (42/85) of the schools reported some adverse events at their clinics, 49.0% of the schools hold a liability insurance. Many acupuncture clinics at schools for the blind were established before the 1930's. During their clinical training, students at these schools are responsible for the majority (93.8%) of the patients' treatments. Clinical fees at these acupuncture clinics were under 525 yen. On the other hand, most of these clinics at acupuncture colleges for the non visually impaired were established in the 1990's after an amendment in the Law. Therapists at these colleges are largely responsible (82.1 %) for clinical treatments during the students' clinical training. Fees at these clinics were between 1576 yen and 2100 yen.<BR>[Conclusion] The state of clinical training for Japanese Anma-Massage-Shiatsu, Acupuncture and Moxibustion education was only elucidated to a small extent. Clinics must improve safety precautions and reassess risk management strategies. Another survey is necessary to define global standards of clinical acupuncture and moxibustion styles. In order to suggest standard policies for clinical management further study is necessary.