The Feasibility and Outcomes of Single-Session Battlefield Acupuncture Training for Geriatric and Palliative Care Providers

Background: Acupuncture is increasingly integrated into Western medicine for non-pharmacologic pain management. Battlefield Acupuncture (BFA), a standardized 5-point ear acupuncture protocol, has proven effective for various painful conditions and is widely implemented within the Veterans Health Administration and Department of Defense health systems. Despite its growing application, our understanding of the efficacy of training on auricular acupuncture among medical professionals not otherwise formally trained in acupuncture is limited. Objective: This study examines the impact of a single BFA training session for geriatric and palliative care providers. Design: A survey based on Bloom’s taxonomy was administered at three intervals: pre-training, 1 week post-training, and 3 months post-training. Setting: An academic medical center. Subjects: Physicians and advanced practice providers who participated in a single-session BFA training. Intervention: A 4-h optional BFA training session. Main Outcome Measures: The survey evaluated participant characteristics, knowledge retention, and changes in practice. Results: There was sustained knowledge retention and increased confidence in providing BFA at 1 week and 3 months. Over half of all participants pursued BFA privileging at their health care institutions. Participants accurately predicted systemic and provider-level barriers to practice adoption and suggested solutions, indicating a high level of engagement with the material presented. Conclusions: This study suggests that a singular BFA training session can significantly and durably impart knowledge, change attitudes, and alter clinical practice among health care providers. Registration: This study was reviewed and deemed exempt by the University of Michigan School of Medicine Institutional Review Board.