Research/The Media/Organization

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

 

In thinking about the recents posts about how poorly research has

generally been conducted on acupuncture and how that tends to then

reflect badly on acupuncture in the media and the public eye, I

naively put the blame on the national acupuncture organizations for

not doing more---and was put in my place about that when it was

explained to me that they simply do not have the resources.

 

So I was wondering if acupuncturists would support an organization

that was devoted strictly to educating researchers and the public

about acupuncture? Would you be willing to pay yearly fees to such an

organization? I sure would. The media is a powerful force to effect

change---but with the wrong information it is also a dangerous force

to spread myths. We need to be out there explaining concepts like the

need for " Differential Diagnosis " in research, and how without it the

outcome of research on acupuncture is always going to be an invalid

measure. At the same time, as the public becomes more savvy about

these ideas it will make our jobs easier because we will not have to

do so much explaining to our patients. Also, perhaps fewer patients

would stop after only a couple visits if they are not yet getting

results if it became a part of the public knowledge that acupuncture

is not like taking a pill and having symptoms instantly disappear

(although, it CAN be that quick, which is hard to explain).

 

If this organization included members who were acupuncturists that

were also skilled writers who were paid a certain amount per article

along with members who were paid to do what it takes to get these

articles published, we'd be getting somewhere, don't you think?

 

Any thoughts anyone? Any closet writers out there? Anyone savvy

about the process of getting things published? I would be interested

in getting involved in this process. Also, it would enable us to have

a venue to publish our own research, such as the type of research that

Pete has been talking about (and was talked about under the Research

posts).

 

Feel free to email me personally or to respond to this post if you are

interested, or if you have thoughts/opinions/ideas about this.

 

Thanks!

 

Laura