Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/22144
Title: Beliefs and values in Japanese acupuncture: an ethnography of Japanese trained acupuncture practitioners in Japan
Contributor(s): Madison, Jeanne  (author); Coop, Paul (author); Dieberg, Gudrun  (author)orcid 
Publication Date: 2017
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2017.07.001Open Access Link
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/22144
Abstract: Background: Japanese acupuncture is gaining international recognition. However, previous research has failed to comprehensively describe the characteristics of Japanese acupuncture by not investigating it within the Japanese clinical environment. This study aimed to identify unique and routine elements of Japanese acupuncture, describe these elements in detail, and examine how the current beliefs and attitudes of Japanese acupuncture practitioners related to philosophical concepts in their practice. Methods: Between August 2012 and December 2016, ethnographic fieldwork was conducted in Japan. Japanese trained acupuncture practitioners were recruited by chain referral and emergent sampling. Data were collected through participant observation, interviews, and by analyzing documents. Thematic analysis was used to critically evaluate the data. Results: Thirty-eight participants were recruited. Of these participants, 22 agreed to clinical observation; 221 treatments were observed with 172 patients. Additionally, 17 participants consented to participate in formal semistructured interviews and 28 to informal unstructured interviews (fieldwork discussion). Besides 'knowledge','beliefs and values' was a major theme interpreted from the data. Subthemes including Zen Buddhism, effect through technique, instant effects of treatment, anatomical areas of significance, resolution of abnormalities, minimal stimulation, and patient comfort and customer service—were identified. Conclusion: Beliefs and values are an underrepresented, yet extremely important aspect of philosophical concepts influencing acupuncture practice in Japan. Uniquely Japanese beliefs and values that do not rely on a commitment to any spiritual or religious affiliations or proprietary knowledge of traditional or biomedicine may be successfully exported from Japan to advance acupuncture education, research and practice in international contexts.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Source of Publication: Integrative Medicine Research, 6(3), p. 260-268
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Place of Publication: Netherlands
ISSN: 2213-4239
2213-4220
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: 110499 Complementary and Alternative Medicine not elsewhere classified
119999 Medical and Health Sciences not elsewhere classified
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: 420899 Traditional, complementary and integrative medicine not elsewhere classified
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: 920201 Allied Health Therapies (excl. Mental Health Services)
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: 200301 Allied health therapies (excl. mental health services)
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal
Appears in Collections:Journal Article

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