A survey on the real-world clinical utilization of a traditional acupuncture in Republic of Korea:Sa-am acupuncture

Objective This study investigated the clinical details and usage of Sa-am acupuncture in Korean medicine clinics and explored how practicing Korean medicine doctors(KMDs)think about Sa-am acupuncture.Methods We conducted a questionnaire-based survey of KMDs who utilize Sa-am acupuncture in their practice.The study comprehensively investigated issues related to clinical application of Sa-am acupuncture,needling techniques used during treatment,training methods,and directions for its future improvement.Results We analyzed 572 responses.An average of 50%of the patients visiting Korean medicine clinics were receiving Sa-am acupuncture.The most prevalent indication for Sa-am acupuncture use was digestive disorders.The patients’appetite level and digestive function were most frequently used indicators for selecting acupuncture points.Regarding prescription compositions,Jung-Gyuk formulas were more frequently used than Seung-Gyuk formulas.Inserting the needle along the flow of the channel or against the flow of the channel was most popular.The acupuncture style most frequently used in combination with Sa-am acupuncture was Ashi point acupuncture.Strengths of Sa-am acupuncture included its versatility,easy application,and good outcomes.Limitations included the lack of rigorous education and training programs,difficulty in applying the principles for beginners,and insufficient clinical research evidence.Conclusion In clinics where Sa-am acupuncture is available,KMDs were providing Sa-am acupuncture to about half of their patients.Practitioners were not using all of the tonification and sedation techniques which may be due to time constraints or simply a lack of necessity.Sa-am acupuncture demonstrated high utility in clinical practice and high satisfaction based on the efficacy and safety.More training programs and high-quality research are needed to help expand the use of Sa-am acupuncture.