Current status of access to medical information for acupuncturists at the medical institutions -in the field of management of terminal cancer-

本研究旨在评估针灸疗法的现况，以及针灸师与其他医疗照护专业人员在提供癌症病患缓和照护的医疗机构中分享资讯的现况。我们发现针灸疗法在治疗疼痛等症状方面有一定的作用，是应患者或其家属要求提供的治疗方法之一。信息共享不仅体现在图表上，而且还体现在相关领域从业人员之间举行会议或直接交流信息的形式上。特别是，与从业人员直接分享信息，使人们更加认识到每个专业的作用。因此，有人建议，直接分享信息对电子制表师很重要。

The purpose of the present study is to assess the current status of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy and of information sharing between acupuncturists and other health care professionals at the medical institutions that provide palliative care to cancer patients.As a result of conducting a questionnaire survey and interviews, we found that acupuncture and moxibustion therapy has a role in the management of symptom such as pain and is among the modalities available upon request by patients or their families. Information was shared not only on a chart, but also in the form of conferences or direct information exchange among practitioners in related fields. In particular, direct information sharing with practitioners provided a stronger recognition for the role of each specialty. Therefore, it was suggested that direct information sharing is important for acupuncturists.