Resources for Writers
Journals that publish acupuncture case reports
The following is a list of journals that have published acupuncture case reports in the past. Some of these journals present a more traditional perspective on acupuncture, while others lean more heavily towards a biomedical stance. The biomedical journals tend to be indexed on research databases such as PubMed and EBSCO. Traditional acupuncture journals are generally not, with a couple of exceptions.
More guidance on publishing case reports, including a description of the peer review process, is provided in Writing Acupuncture Case Reports: Theory and Practice.
Traditional Acupuncture Journals
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Journals
Medical Acupuncture and other Biomedical Journals
Patient-Reported Outcomes (MYMOP)
Outcome measurement scales have been created and tested for the purpose of evaluating a patient’s condition including scales for pain, functionality, depression and anxiety, and more. Perhaps the most versatile of the Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) is the Measure Your Medical Outcome Profile (MYMOP) scale which has been validated since the 1990s. It provides a way for the patient to report on his or her results for any complaint. Using this scale to evaluate all of your patients will not only add a level of significance should you choose to write a case report, it may be useful for all of your patients to help guide your continued care.
Patient Consent
The Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) document on best practices for ensuring consent for publishing medical case reports offers ethical guidance for creating a patient consent form. It can be downloaded through the above link.
The following are examples of patient consent forms required for publication of case reports in their respective journals. Please note that each state and each country have different laws pertaining to patient consent, and one form is not likely to provide full legal protection in all jurisdictions.
Case Report Rubric
The Case Report Rubric was published in its original form in the Meridians Journal of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (now the Journal of the American Society of Acupuncturists). The updated version of this rubric, with minor revisions, is included in an appendix of Writing Acupuncture Case Reports.
An appendix within the book also includes descriptions of major acupuncture styles practiced today, vetted by senior practitioners and teachers in the field.
For an in-depth resource on how to write an acupuncture case report from start to finish, click here.