Safety, Patient Satisfaction and Necessity of Acupoint Autohemotherapy: A Multi-centre Cross- sectional Study

Abstract

Abstract Background and Objective: Over the past few decades, a lot of research on acupoint autohemotherapy (A-AHT) has been published in China. However, lack of knowledge about adverse events (AEs) of A-AHT contributing to clinicians’ reluctance to utilize this novel method. The main aim of this multicenter study used a questionnaire to assess the safety, patient satisfaction and necessity of A-AHT among health care practitioners and recipients. Methods: From March to May 2022, questionnaires including topics such as background data, evaluation of A-AHT side effects and satisfaction levels were distributed to patients receiving A-AHT treatment and medical personnel (nurses and doctors) in 43 centers across 30 cities and regions of China. Associations between paticipants’ characteristics and their view of efficacy, safety, satisfaction, and necessity of A-AHT were investigated using paired student’s t-test, chi-square test, and Pearson’s correlations. Results: 76 healthcare professionals (HPs) and 71 patients completed the survey questionnaires. It was showed that the experienced HPs were more firmly of the view that A-AHT treatment was effective, safe and satisfactory than the patients. In comparison to the other patients, the rhinitis patients thought A-AHT was safer, more satisfying, and more necessary.Local pain (63.2%) and ecchymosis (40.8%) are the two AEs of HPs that cause the most concern. Also, local pain was most frequently experienced by the patients (47.9%). However, HPs' experiences using A-AHT tended to be more problematic than those of the patients. A positive correlation (R=0.649. P<0.05) was found between patients’ view of efficacy and satisfaction. Conclusion: The experienced HPs were more convinced than the patients that A-AHT was efficient, safe, and satisfactory. However, patients had fewer issues than anticipated, according to HPs. To encourage A-AHT treatment, all practitioners must have a thorough understanding of the potential AEs of A-AHT.