Tackling health inequity: a commentary on the potential of acupuncture to improve health outcomes of marginalised populations.

Baker, K; McDonald, J; Steel, A

Tackling health inequity: a commentary on the potential of acupuncture to improve health outcomes of marginalised populations.

Baker, K McDonald, J Steel, A

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Publisher:: SAGE Publications
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Acupuncture in medicine, 2021, 39, (5), pp. 533-537
Issue Date:: 2021-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Baker, K
dc.contributor.author	McDonald, J
dc.contributor.author	Steel, A https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6643-9444
dc.date.accessioned	2021-11-25T04:04:01Z
dc.date.available	2021-11-25T04:04:01Z
dc.date.issued	2021-01-01
dc.identifier.citation	Acupuncture in medicine, 2021, 39, (5), pp. 533-537
dc.identifier.issn	0964-5284
dc.identifier.issn	1759-9873
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/151836
dc.description.abstract	Background: Health inequities or disparities challenge governments and public health systems, impacting health service delivery worldwide. Inherent disadvantage linked to the social determinants of health is intrinsic to the health outcomes among society’s marginalised and most vulnerable members. It is acknowledged that marginalised individuals present with higher levels of chronic disease, multi-morbidities and adverse health behaviours than their non-disadvantaged peers. Marginalised individuals and communities present with complex health problems and often receive poor quality or inadequate health care that is unable to meet their needs, leading to stigmatisation and perpetuating the cycle of disadvantage. Discussion: Emerging research indicates that there may be a role for acupuncture in managing the health needs of marginalised populations and that when historical barriers to accessing acupuncture treatment (such as awareness, availability and affordability of this therapy) are removed, certain marginalised populations are open to engaging with acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture has been used by low-income, refugee, veteran and ethnic minority groups to manage chronic pain, substance use disorders, stress and the impacts of trauma in conventional health settings such as community clinics and hospitals. There is the suggestion that integrative health settings and group treatment models may improve access and uptake of acupuncture among marginalised groups. Conclusion: Evidence suggests that the sociodemographic profile of acupuncture users is diverse and acupuncture therapy holds potential value in the treatment of marginalised populations. Further research that investigates reframing and expanding the scope of practice for acupuncture is timely and may contribute to tackling health inequity.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	SAGE Publications
dc.relation.ispartof	Acupuncture in medicine
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1177/0964528420961404
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	1104 Complementary and Alternative Medicine
dc.subject.classification	Complementary & Alternative Medicine
dc.subject.mesh	Acupuncture Therapy
dc.subject.mesh	Ethnic Groups
dc.subject.mesh	Healthcare Disparities
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Income
dc.subject.mesh	Minority Groups
dc.title	Tackling health inequity: a commentary on the potential of acupuncture to improve health outcomes of marginalised populations.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	39
utslib.location.activity	England
utslib.for	1104 Complementary and Alternative Medicine
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2021-11-25T04:03:59Z
pubs.issue	5
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	39
utslib.citation.issue	5

Abstract:

Background: Health inequities or disparities challenge governments and public health systems, impacting health service delivery worldwide. Inherent disadvantage linked to the social determinants of health is intrinsic to the health outcomes among society’s marginalised and most vulnerable members. It is acknowledged that marginalised individuals present with higher levels of chronic disease, multi-morbidities and adverse health behaviours than their non-disadvantaged peers. Marginalised individuals and communities present with complex health problems and often receive poor quality or inadequate health care that is unable to meet their needs, leading to stigmatisation and perpetuating the cycle of disadvantage. Discussion: Emerging research indicates that there may be a role for acupuncture in managing the health needs of marginalised populations and that when historical barriers to accessing acupuncture treatment (such as awareness, availability and affordability of this therapy) are removed, certain marginalised populations are open to engaging with acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture has been used by low-income, refugee, veteran and ethnic minority groups to manage chronic pain, substance use disorders, stress and the impacts of trauma in conventional health settings such as community clinics and hospitals. There is the suggestion that integrative health settings and group treatment models may improve access and uptake of acupuncture among marginalised groups. Conclusion: Evidence suggests that the sociodemographic profile of acupuncture users is diverse and acupuncture therapy holds potential value in the treatment of marginalised populations. Further research that investigates reframing and expanding the scope of practice for acupuncture is timely and may contribute to tackling health inequity.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/151836