This website is under development. Detailed information to follow.

Hospital Acupuncture
Implementation Framework

Integrating acupuncture into hospitals is best understood as a process of service implementation. The Hospital Acupuncture Implementation Framework (HAIF) was developed to address this need, drawing on implementation science methodology and grounded in real-world experience from an acupressure project for post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV). HAIF has since been applied to PANDA — Personalised Acupuncture in the Northern Hospital Emergency Department for Acute Pain. Current examples focus on the PONV project; information about PANDA will be updated here when available.

Phase 1: Exploration — identifying factors

Phase 1: Exploration

Identifying human factors and environmental factors

 Phase 2: Preparation — addressing barriers

Phase 2: Preparation

Addressing barriers and using enablers

 Phase 3: Implementation — executing the plan

Phase 3: Implementation

Executing with evidence-based strategies

 Phase 4: Sustainment — maintaining practice

Phase 4: Sustainment

Normalising into routine practice
The Bottom Line Acupuncture and acupressure are effective non-pharmacological interventions for post-operative nausea and vomiting and acute pain. Despite quality evidence, systematic implementation of acupuncture in hospitals remains rare. This framework shows you how.

Application Examples

Acupressure for PONV

Nurse-led acupressure wristband implementation for post-operative nausea and vomiting at Northern Hospital, Victoria.

View case study →

PANDA — Acupuncture in the ED Coming Soon

Personalised Acupuncture in the Northern Hospital Emergency Department for Acute Pain. Research in progress.

Key Evidence

PC6 acupoint stimulation consistently reduces post-operative nausea and vomiting. Pooled across all modalities, nausea is reduced from 47% to 31% (RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.60–0.77), vomiting from 33% to 19% (RR 0.60, 95% CI 0.51–0.71), and rescue antiemetic use from 33% to 20% (RR 0.64, 95% CI 0.55–0.73).

Source: Lee et al., 2025 (Cochrane review update). Full evidence summaries →

About the Framework

HAIF is a collaborative innovation between RMIT University and Northern Health, led by Professor Zhen Zheng, PhD. It was developed during Professor Zheng's NHMRC Translating Research into Practice (TRIP) Fellowship (App 1110446), drawing on implementation science and hands-on experience from an acupressure project for post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV). HAIF has since been applied to PANDA, implementing acupuncture in the Northern Hospital emergency department for acute pain.

Learn more about HAIF →