Guidelines on Basic Training and Safety in Acupuncture: Section I: Basic training in acupuncture: 2. Use of acupuncture in national health systems: 2.2 Examinations and licensing

Guidelines on Basic Training and Safety in Acupuncture
(1999; 35 pages) [French] [Spanish]

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Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Introduction
	Basic training in acupuncture
	Safety in acupuncture
Section I: Basic training in acupuncture
	1. Purpose of the guidelines
	2. Use of acupuncture in national health systems
		2.1 Administrative and academic considerations
		2.2 Examinations and licensing
		2.3 Supervision, monitoring and evaluation
		2.4 Further education and career possibilities
	3. Levels of training
	4. Training programmes
	5. Training of acupuncture practitioners
		5.1 Acupuncture practitioners
		5.2 Entrance requirements
		5.3 Duration of training
		5.4 Objective
		5.5 Core syllabus in acupuncture
		5.6 Core syllabus in modern Western medicine
		5.7 Other related fields of health care
		5.8 Examination
	6. Full training in acupuncture for qualified physicians
	7. Limited training in acupuncture for qualified physicians
		7.1 Basic training
		7.2 Special courses
		7.3 Advanced training
	8. Limited training in acupuncture for primary health care personnel
	9. Selected acupuncture points for basic training
	10. Selected points for basic training in acupuncture
Section II: Safety in acupuncture
	1. Prevention of infection
		1.1 Clean working environment
		1.2 Clean hands
		1.3 Preparation of the needling sites
		1.4 Sterilization and storage of needles and equipment
		1.5 Aseptic technique
	2. Contraindications
		2.1 Pregnancy
		2.2 Medical emergencies and surgical conditions
		2.3 Malignant tumours
		2.4 Bleeding disorders
	3. Accidents and untoward reactions
		3.1 Needle quality
		3.2 Position of patient
		3.3 Fainting
		3.4 Convulsions
		3.5 Pain
		3.6 Stuck needle
		3.7 Broken needle
		3.8 Local infection
		3.9 Burning during moxibustion
	4. Electrical stimulation and laser therapy
	5. Injury to important organs
		5.1 Areas not to be punctured
		5.2 Precautions to be taken
	6. Patient records
Appendix
	1. Sterilization of acupuncture needles and equipment
	2. Methods of sterilization
	3. Disinfection
	4. Maintenance
Annex I: List of participants

2.2 Examinations and licensing

A system of examination and licensing would be needed to ensure the competence of those trained, and to prevent unauthorized practice of acupuncture.

This would bring under control the situation, current in certain industrialized and developing countries, where commercial exploitation of acupuncture training and practice is not uncommon, with all the harmful consequences that may ensue.