Observational studies in a network of hospitals using complementary medicine. Part II: Detailed results from the hospital for traditional Chinese medicine in Kotzting

Objective: To collect information on patients, interventions and outcomes in a hospital for traditional Chinese medicine in Germany. Design: Prospective observational study with 12 months followup. Patients: All 667 consecutive patients admitted for in-patient treatment in the hospital between December 1994 and July 1995 were documented. The follow-up rate after 12 months was 65.8%. Outcome Measures: Sociodemographic data, diagnoses, duration of complaints, type and frequency of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, intensity of complaints, assessment of the therapeutic success and quality of life. Results: About two thirds of the patients suffered from chronic pain syndromes (the most frequent single diagnoses were migraine, lumbago, and neck pain/headaches). 72.3% of the patients were female; the median duration since the onset of the disease was 7 years. Almost all patients received acupuncture and treatment with traditional Chinese drugs. 50.3% assessed the therapeutic success as good or very good at discharge; after 12 months this rate was 55.6%. Both intensity of main complaints and psychic and physical aspects of quality of life improved after treatment. After 12 months the improvement was less distinct but still significant. Conclusions: The in-patient treatment provided a clear benefit to the patients. Without a valid comparison with an alternative treatment little can be concluded about comparative effectiveness and efficiency of a treatment in the hospital for traditional Chinese medicine.