GENERAL-PRACTITIONERS ASSESSMENT OF AND INTEREST IN ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE IN CANADA

Canadian physicians' opinions about alternative medicine have, as yet, not been assessed. The objectives of this pilot study were to assess general practitioners': (1) desired involvement in alternative medicin e; (2) perceived demand for alternative medicine; and (3) beliefs abou t the efficacy of different alternative approaches. The study design w as a cross-sectional survey of 400 randomly selected Alberta and Ontar io general practitioners. Of the 384 eligible physicians, 200 (52%) co mpleted the questionnaire. Seventy-three percent of physicians felt th at they should have some knowledge about the most important alternativ e treatments. However, with respect to other issues, physicians desire d less involvement with alternative medicine. Sixty-five percent perce ived a demand for alternative medicine from their patients, in particu lar chiropractic. Alternative medicine was perceived to be needed most for musculoskeletal problems and chronic pain or illness. Chiropracti c, hypnosis and acupuncture (for chronic pain) were believed to be mos t efficacious, while homeopathy and reflexology were considered to be least efficacious. Undergraduate, graduate clinical and continuing med ical education will need to address alternative treatments in order to provide physicians with up-to-date and relevant information.