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Alternative Treatments Study
Use of Alternative Therapies: Changing
Patterns and Experience with Treatments
Alternative/complementary medicine has gained headlines
since Dr. David Eisenberg's report in The Journal of the American Medical Association
in 1990 showed its remarkable use and rise in popularity. What have been the trends since
then? By watching television and looking at the news shorts, you could venture a good
guess; however, here's a few facts and a study done in Denmark that may help us see the
future of our role as practitioners and patients.
Use of Alternative Treatments in Denmark: Patterns
of Use and Patients' Experience with Treatment Effects (Laila Launso is an associate
professor in the Department of Social Pharmacy at the Royal Danish School of Pharmacy in
Copenhagen, Denmark.
Increasing use of alternative treatments and changes in
patterns of use have been reported internationally. In Denmark, the dominate pattern of
use in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s was for people to be treated for their health problems
within the established treatment system for many years before they sought alternative
treatment. The alternative practitioner was most often sought out as a "last
resort." A change in this pattern can be detected in the 1990s, during which time
studies have shown that people are beginning to go directly to alternative practitioners
for relief of several health problems. When asked what motivates them to seek alternative
treatments, patients revealed two primary factors:
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Dissatisfaction with established treatments experienced in
relation to health problems. This dissatisfaction was especially aimed at drug treatment.
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A search for other ways to conceive illness. People are
looking for more "whole"-person-oriented understandings of their health
problems.
A nationwide survey conducted in Denmark 1991 to study the
effects experienced by patients showed that 77% of patients who used alternative
treatments reported that treatment from an alternative practitioner either cured (33%) or
helped them (44%). Seventeen percent did not notice any effect. One percent experienced
worsening of their health problems, and 5% reported that the effects were unknown. The
study continues with findings on treatments for headaches, allergies, and cancer. We will
keep you updated on the trends and patient satisfaction as they become available.
Use of Alternative Medicine in the United States
Steadily Increases
(Source: Trends in Alternative Medicine Use in the U.S. 1990-97, JAMA, Nov. 11, 1998)
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1990 -- 385,919,000 visits to alternative therapies,
387,558,000 visits to all primary care physicians
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1997 -- 628,825,000 visits to alternative therapies,
427,120,000 visits to primary care physicians
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