# Extrapolation errors in Liu et al.’s CAM integrative review of health care professionals in New Zealand

## TL;DR

This letter points out significant errors in Liu et al.'s review of complementary medicine practices by healthcare professionals in New Zealand.

## Contribution

The paper corrects misrepresentations of McDowell et al.'s 2019 research on acupuncture use by physiotherapists in New Zealand.

## Key findings

- Liu et al. incorrectly cited and misrepresented the findings of McDowell et al.'s study.
- The actual results of McDowell et al. show a different state of acupuncture use by physiotherapists than what was reported in Liu et al.'s review.

## Abstract

This letter is to highlight errors made by Liu et al. in their 2020 paper in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, “Complementary and alternative medicine—practice, attitudes, and knowledge among healthcare professionals in New Zealand: an integrative review”. Substantial errors in their citation of the recent research and methodology by McDowell, Kohut & Betts (2019) pertaining to the practice of acupuncture in New Zealand by physiotherapists are presented. The actual results of McDowell et al.’s work and the true state of acupuncture use by their sample group is reported.