DO PATIENTS CHOOSE COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE FOR OBJECTIVE OR IRRATIONALREASONS

Problem and Objective: Complementary medicine is being used to varying extent in all industrial countries. There are incomplete data concern ing efficacy, safety and costs of such treatment, while little is know n about special features and motivation of those persons who choose co mplementary medicine. The aim of the study was to ascertain, among pat ients who use complementary medicine and those who prefer traditional medicine, any differences with regard to sociodemographic, disease-rel ated and psychological caracteristics and their life-style. Patients a nd methods: A total of 419 patients were studied by a standardised int erview and questionnaire (168 items) and divided into two groups (grou p 1: those using conventional treatment [n = 197; 91 women, 106 men; a verage age 43.2 +/- 16.9 years]; group 2: those preferring complementa ry medicine [n = 222; 159 women, 63 men; average age 43.2 +/- 15.0 yea rs]). They were recruited from specialist internal medical or generali st medical practice with or without offer of complementary medicine (a dditional term: natural healing methods). Statistical analysis was wit h Student's-t-test and the gamma-test. Results: Those patients who cho se to be treated by complementary medicine clearly differed from the o thers with respect to sociodermographic, disease-related and psycholog ical characteristics, as well as life-style. The patient-doctor relati onship also differed between the two groups. On average those of group Z had a higher educational level (higher education: 10.3% in group 1; 15.9 in group 2) and lower risk factors (68.9% nonsmokers in group 1, 77.8% in group 2; alcohol abstinence: 33.2 vs 46.4%). Patients in bot h groups preferred conventional medicine for serious diseases (cardiac infarct; tumour; AIDS). Conclusion: In general, those patients who ch oose complementary medicine have a healthier life-style. As the number of these patients is on the increase. Since as yet the efficacy, risk s and costs of complementary medicine have been inadequately investiga ted, research in this area should be intensified.