Acupuncture: State of affairs in Belgium
Authors: De Gendt Tom , Desomer Anja , Goossens Mieke , Hanquet Germaine , Léonard Christian , Roberfroid Dominique , Mertens Raf , Piérart Julien , Robays Jo , Schmitz Olivier , Vinck Imgard , Kohn Laurence , Van den Bruel Ann 
Published: January 2025

ABREVIATIONS 3 -- 1 INTRODUCTION 5 -- 1.1 BACKGROUND 5 -- 1.2 OBJECTIVES AND METHODS 6 -- 1.3 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 6 -- 1.3.1 Definition of acupuncture 6 -- 1.3.2 The Chinese origins of acupuncture 6 -- 1.3.3 Importing acupuncture into Europe 8 -- 1.3.4 Acupuncture between tradition and modernity 8 -- 1.3.5 The origins of acupuncture in Belgium 9 -- 2 EFFICACY AND ADVERSE EVENTS 10 -- 2.1 INTRODUCTION 10 -- 2.2 METHODS 10 -- 2.2.1 Databases and search terms 10 -- 2.2.2 Selection criteria 11 -- 2.2.3 Quality assessment 11 -- 2.2.4 Clinical relevance 11 -- 2.3 RESULTS 12 -- 2.3.1 Selected reports and papers 12 -- 2.3.2 Main findings on published effects 13 -- 2.3.3 Discussion and conclusions 19 -- 3 USE OF ACUPUNCTURE IN BELGIUM 21 -- 3.1 SURVEY AMONG THE POPULATION 21 -- 3.1.1 Objective 21 -- 3.1.2 Methods 21 -- 3.1.3 The use of alternative medicines in general 22 -- 3.1.4 Use of acupuncture 23 -- 3.2 INSURANCE COVERAGE 24 -- 3.2.1 Objective 24 -- 3.2.2 Methods 24 -- 3.2.3 Results 24 -- 3.2.4 Discussion 25 -- 3.2.5 Conclusions 26 -- 3.3 SOCIOLOGICAL ASPECTS: USAGE AND PRACTICE OF ACUPUNCTURE IN BELGIUM -- TODAY 26 -- 3.3.1 Scope of this section 26 -- 3.3.2 Material and methods 26 -- 3.3.3 The experience of users 28 -- 3.3.4 The practitioners 38 -- 4 THE PRACTICE 46 -- 4.1 OBJECTIVE 46 -- 4.2 METHODS 46 -- 4.3 RESULTS 46 -- 4.3.1 Response rate 46 -- 4.3.2 Baseline characteristics 47 -- 4.3.3 Training 47 -- 4.3.4 Practice 48 -- 4.3.5 Provider delay 50 -- 4.3.6 Workload and profile of patients 50 -- 4.3.7 Patient referral: 53 -- 4.3.8 Complaints for use of acupuncture 54 -- 4.3.9 Techniques used 55 -- 4.4 DISCUSSION 56 -- 5 ORGANISATIONAL AND LEGAL ASPECTS 57 -- 5.1 BELGIAN AND EUROPEAN LEGAL FRAMEWORK 57 -- 5.1.1 Introduction 57 -- 5.1.2 Methodology 57 -- 5.1.3 The exercise of conventional healthcare in Belgium under the terms of Royal Decree -- no. 78 57 -- 5.1.4 The exercise of non-conventional medicine in Belgium 59 -- 5.1.5 The relationship between the Colla law and Royal Decree no. 78 66 -- 5.1.6 The consequences of the (non-)conventional exercise of healthcare 68 -- 5.1.7 The exercise of non-conventional medicine in the European context 73 -- 5.1.8 Conclusion concerning the Belgian and European legal framework 74 -- 5.2 THE SITUATION IN THE NETHERLANDS, FRANCE AND THE UNITED KINGDOM 75 -- 5.2.1 Structure of the chapter 75 -- 5.2.2 Netherlands 75 -- 5.2.3 France 77 -- 5.2.4 United Kingdom 79 -- 5.2.5 Conclusion on the situation in the Netherlands, France and the United Kingdom 81 -- 5.3 ACUPUNCTURE TRAINING 81 -- 5.3.1 Objectives 81 -- 5.3.2 Methods 82 -- 5.3.3 Results 82 -- 5.3.4 Discussion 84 -- 5.3.5 Conclusion 86 -- 5.4 PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATIONS 87 -- 5.4.1 Objective 87 -- 5.4.2 Methods 87 -- 5.4.3 Results 87 -- 5.4.4 Discussion 89 -- 5.4.5 Conclusion 90 -- 6 GENERAL SYNTHESIS AND DISCUSSION 91 -- 6.1 INTRODUCTION 91 -- 6.1.1 Context 91 -- 6.1.2 Objectives and methods 91 -- 6.1.3 Limitations 92 -- 6.2 ACUPUNCTURE IN BELGIUM: USERS, PRACTITIONERS AND PRACTICES 92 -- 6.2.1 Non-conventional medicines: an increasingly frequent use 92 -- 6.2.2 Acupuncture in Belgium: general background 92 -- 6.2.3 Who are the patients? 93 -- 6.2.4 Who are the practitioners? 94 -- 6.2.5 The pathway of the Patient 95 -- 6.3 IS ACUPUNCTURE CLINICALLY EFFECTIVE? 99 -- 6.3.1 Evidence in the scientific literature 99 -- 6.3.2 Patient point of view 100 -- 6.3.3 Which risks? 100 -- 6.4 TRAINING 100 -- 6.5 LEGAL FRAMEWORK 101 -- 6.5.1 Background 101 -- 6.5.2 The Colla law 101 -- 6.5.3 Consequences of partial execution of the Colla law 103 -- 7 CONCLUSION 104 -- 8 REFERENCES 106