Ce. Schwartz et al., Utilization of unconventional treatments by persons with MS: Is it alternative or complementary?, NEUROLOGY, 52(3), 1999, pp. 626-629
This cross-sectional mail survey evaluated the prevalence and predictors of
unconventional therapy (UT) utilization among 569 community-based people w
ith MS. One-third reported having visited a UT practitioner in the last 6 m
onths. Utilizers tended to report at least one medical comorbidity, earn at
least $50,000 a year, and engage in preventive health behaviors; they also
used more outpatient services and reported higher levels of interpersonal
quality of care with their allopathic MS care provider than did nonutilizer
s. We conclude that UT is complementary to allopathic medicine for people w
ith MS.