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ACUPUNCTURE IN MEDICINE 2007;25(1-2):22-28. 22 www.acupunctureinmedicine.org.uk/volindex.php Introduction The use of acupuncture in Australia has significantly increased over recent years. From 1993 to 2000, the percentage of the population that consulted an acupuncturist in the previous 12 months increased from 2.0% to 2.8%. Similar prevalence estimates have been reported for other countries. Research suggests around 1% of the US adult population uses acupuncture, and in England 1.6% of the adult population are estimated to have used acupuncture in the previous 12 months (a percentage which equates to 3.14 million visits per year to acupuncturists). Numerous studies have examined the characteristics or profile of users of the broad field of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM). These studies show that while CAM use is not restricted to one specific population group, those who use CAM tend to use it in conjunction with conventional health services, rather than as a substitute (ie where CAM and conventional medicines are not used exclusively but instead treatment may be adopted alongside or in a supplementary or complementary fashion dependent upon circumstances and choice). CAM users are also more likely to be married, be between the ages of 35 and 49, have a higher income, a higher level of education, be employed in full time work, have poorer health status and are more likely to be women than men. Although an increase in the use of acupuncture in recent years has been identified, there are few studies that focus attention upon the characteristics of The characteristics of middle aged Australian women who consult acupuncturists