A Chart Review from an Oriental Medicine College,Comparing Patients Who Came for Only One Visit and Those Who Came for at Least Five Visits

Abstract

Abstract

Background:

While there have been studies examining who seeks acupuncture treatments, there have not been any studies to see who returns for more treatments.

Objective:

This study was conducted to compare demographic, symptomatic, and syndrome differentiation among patients who came for one visit and those who came for five or more visits.

Design:

This was a chart review comparing 33 randomly chosen patients who came to the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (OCOM) clinic for one visit to 39 randomly chosen patients who came for five or more visits.

Setting:

All patients were seen by student interns at the Acupuncture and Herbal Clinic of the OCOM.

Patients:

All patients were new patients to the clinic who came for their first visit during the spring and summer quarters of 2008.

Outcome Measures:

The two groups were compared with respect to a variety of demographic factors and presenting conditions.

Results:

Age was the major statistically significant difference between the two groups. There were other suggestive differences, but they were not significant.

Conclusions:

While there was only one statistically significant difference between the two groups, there were suggestive differences between the two groups that may help acupuncturists to discern better what types of people are more likely to become regular patients.