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Ear Acupuncture in Psychiatric Care From the Health Care Professionals' Perspective : A Phenomenographic Analysis

Landgren, Kajsa LU orcid ; Strand, Annica Sjöström LU ; Ekelin, Maria LU and Ahlström, Gerd LU orcid (2019) In Issues in Mental Health Nursing 40(2). p.166-175
Abstract

Ear acupuncture is used as a non-pharmacological complement in psychiatric and addiction care to reduce anxiety, depression and insomnia. The aim of this study was to describe health care professionals' perceptions of giving ear acupuncture in different psychiatric settings. Twenty-four professionals providing ear acupuncture to patients with a variety of psychiatric symptoms and/or addiction were interviewed in focus groups. Data were analyzed with a phenomenographic approach. Ear acupuncture was provided, individually or in groups, to in- and outpatients with a variety of psychiatric symptoms and/or addiction. Three descriptive categories emerged: Another tool in the toolbox, Strengthening the profession and Person-centered care.... (More)

Ear acupuncture is used as a non-pharmacological complement in psychiatric and addiction care to reduce anxiety, depression and insomnia. The aim of this study was to describe health care professionals' perceptions of giving ear acupuncture in different psychiatric settings. Twenty-four professionals providing ear acupuncture to patients with a variety of psychiatric symptoms and/or addiction were interviewed in focus groups. Data were analyzed with a phenomenographic approach. Ear acupuncture was provided, individually or in groups, to in- and outpatients with a variety of psychiatric symptoms and/or addiction. Three descriptive categories emerged: Another tool in the toolbox, Strengthening the profession and Person-centered care. Participants perceived ear acupuncture to be an effective and safe therapeutic tool, easy to use in concert with other methods and easy to adjust to the patients' needs and requests. They perceived that their professional self-confidence increased when having this non-verbal, person-centered and non-pharmacological tool in their hands as a complement to ordinary care. Professionals perceived that patients trained their social skills while participating in acupuncture, and that the treatment helped patients to influence their subjective psychiatric health through gaining control over symptoms. Acupuncture helped professionals to build a trustful relationship and communicate with their patients, verbally and non-verbally. The finding shows ear acupuncture as a safe treatment and promising in relieving psychiatric and somatic symptoms. Acupuncture facilitates the communication with patient, emphasizing participation and shared decision-making, valuable dimensions of person-centered care. Managers' role and attitude in supporting staff needs to be explored in future research.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Issues in Mental Health Nursing
volume
40
issue
2
pages
166 - 175
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:85059561752
  • pmid:30605358
ISSN
1096-4673
DOI
10.1080/01612840.2018.1534908
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6b725390-b797-4fdd-8818-c3ec7ba67714
date added to LUP
2019-01-10 13:06:27
date last changed
2024-05-13 23:25:49
@article{6b725390-b797-4fdd-8818-c3ec7ba67714,
  abstract     = {{<p>Ear acupuncture is used as a non-pharmacological complement in psychiatric and addiction care to reduce anxiety, depression and insomnia. The aim of this study was to describe health care professionals' perceptions of giving ear acupuncture in different psychiatric settings. Twenty-four professionals providing ear acupuncture to patients with a variety of psychiatric symptoms and/or addiction were interviewed in focus groups. Data were analyzed with a phenomenographic approach. Ear acupuncture was provided, individually or in groups, to in- and outpatients with a variety of psychiatric symptoms and/or addiction. Three descriptive categories emerged: Another tool in the toolbox, Strengthening the profession and Person-centered care. Participants perceived ear acupuncture to be an effective and safe therapeutic tool, easy to use in concert with other methods and easy to adjust to the patients' needs and requests. They perceived that their professional self-confidence increased when having this non-verbal, person-centered and non-pharmacological tool in their hands as a complement to ordinary care. Professionals perceived that patients trained their social skills while participating in acupuncture, and that the treatment helped patients to influence their subjective psychiatric health through gaining control over symptoms. Acupuncture helped professionals to build a trustful relationship and communicate with their patients, verbally and non-verbally. The finding shows ear acupuncture as a safe treatment and promising in relieving psychiatric and somatic symptoms. Acupuncture facilitates the communication with patient, emphasizing participation and shared decision-making, valuable dimensions of person-centered care. Managers' role and attitude in supporting staff needs to be explored in future research.</p>}},
  author       = {{Landgren, Kajsa and Strand, Annica Sjöström and Ekelin, Maria and Ahlström, Gerd}},
  issn         = {{1096-4673}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{01}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{166--175}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Issues in Mental Health Nursing}},
  title        = {{Ear Acupuncture in Psychiatric Care From the Health Care Professionals' Perspective : A Phenomenographic Analysis}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2018.1534908}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/01612840.2018.1534908}},
  volume       = {{40}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}