The practitioner research and collaboration Initiative (PRACI): Updated characteristics of the world's largest complementary medicine practice-based research network.

Researchers have updated the world's largest practice-based research network for complementary medicine practitioners, called PRACI (Practitioner Research and Collaboration Initiative). This study collected current information from 922 practitioners across nine different complementary medicine fields, including acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, naturopathy, massage therapy, and Western herbal medicine, among others.

The researchers surveyed these practitioners about their backgrounds, qualifications, practice locations, and the types of health conditions they most commonly treat. They found that most practitioners were female and worked in urban areas. The most common areas these practitioners focused on were general health and wellbeing, musculoskeletal problems, pain management, and women's health issues.

This updated network is important for patients because it creates a foundation for better research into complementary medicine treatments. By having such a large group of practitioners willing to participate in research studies, scientists can conduct more robust investigations into which complementary therapies work best for different health conditions. This means that over time, patients will have access to better evidence about the safety and effectiveness of treatments like acupuncture.

The PRACI network has already completed numerous research projects and collaborations since its launch in 2014, and this refresh ensures it continues to accurately represent current complementary medicine practice. For patients considering acupuncture or other complementary therapies, this research infrastructure helps ensure that treatment recommendations are increasingly based on solid clinical evidence. When seeking acupuncture treatment, patients should look for qualified practitioners who have completed appropriate training and maintain current professional credentials.

This cross-sectional survey study reports updated demographic and practice characteristics from the refreshed PRACI (Practitioner Research and Collaboration Initiative) membership, the world's largest complementary medicine practice-based research network (PBRN). Established in 2014, PRACI recruited 922 practitioners across nine CM professions: acupuncture, Bowen therapy, Chinese herbal medicine, kinesiology, massage therapy, myotherapy, naturopathy, nutrition, and Western herbal medicine. Survey domains included practitioner demographics, clinical identity and qualifications, clinical career and practice characteristics. The majority of members identified as female and practiced in urban localities. Primary clinical interest areas included general health and wellbeing, musculoskeletal health, pain management, and women's health. No specific effect sizes were reported as this was a descriptive membership characterization study. Clinical significance: The refreshed PRACI infrastructure provides essential research capacity for practice-based evidence generation in complementary medicine, facilitating future collaborative research grounded in real-world clinical practice across multiple CM disciplines.