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The Acumen Project (ACUpuncture for MENorrhagia)

An exploratory trial to assess the feasibility of a full scale pragmatic randomised controlled trial to evaluate the clinical and economic benefits of offering acupuncture to patients with menorrhagia in primary care

The ACUMEN study as part of the widening debate about acupuncture and the NHS

The ACUMEN exploratory trial addresses the current need for less invasive and more supportive treatment options in the initial management of menorrhagia.  It also addresses the need to develop the evidence base for acupuncture in the treatment of menorrhagia.   Current estimates show that 1 in 5 people in the UK use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)⁽²⁷⁾.  Acupuncture is one of the most popular CAM modalities, and at least 6% of those patients consulting acupuncture practitioners in the UK receive treatment for gynaecological and obstetric conditions⁽²⁸⁾.  Thus the development of the evidence base for acupuncture in the treatment of menorrhagia will satisfy two further objectives: First, it will enable women with menorrhagia to make informed health care choices.  Second, it will inform decision making as to whether or not the NHS should provide wider access to acupuncture treatment ⁽²⁹⁾.         

Expected date for publication of results: 2003