Abstract
This research evaluated the counseling aspects of acupuncture/moxibustion treatments (a psychological factor) as well as physical contact and acupuncture/moxibustion stimulations (a physical factor) affecting the improvement of the symptoms, level of satisfaction and trust. One hundred ninety-seven patients who came to the acupuncture/moxibustion/massage clinic were asked to fill out a questionnaire before and after the treatments. The following factors were assessed: counseling aspects, response to physical contact, stimulation by acupuncture/moxibustion, their perceptions about Oriental Medicine, self-perceived symptom improvement, level of satisfaction and trust in the treatment. As a result of a factor analysis, the following three factors regarding the counseling aspects were considered important: “attentive listening on the part of the practitioner,” “accepting attitude,” and “discerning medical opinion.” The result of a multiple regression analysis showed that there were influential relationships between the following factors. Firstly, attentive listening and appropriate physical contact were effective for the self-perceived symptom improvement. An accepting attitude and appropriate acupuncture/moxibustion stimulation improved the satisfaction level. Lastly, an accepting attitude and appropriate physical contact, discerning medical opinion and appropriate acupuncture/moxibustion stimulation raised the level of trust in the efficacy of the treatment. The results demonstrated that not only the appropriate physical stimulation but the counseling aspects contributed to the satisfying synergistic effect of acupuncture/moxibustion treatments.
