Background:
Alternative medicine is a world-wide phenomena. Use of alternative
practices became an important phenomena in health care delivery.
Utilisation of alternative medicine practices differ from 6% up
to 42% of the population in different countries.
Aim:
To evaluate patient characteristics, morbidity, functional status,
quality of life, satisfaction with care, practice characteristics
and health care utilisation in general practice patients using
alternative medicine.
Methods:
Cross sectional survey of GP patients completing a self-administered
questionnaire using validated instruments on patient satisfaction,
quality of life and presence of psychological problems. A stratified
sample of 36 GP offices in Slovenia. 60 consecutive patients in
sampled practices contacting the doctor in the office during study
period in March 1998. Main outcome measures: patients' age, sex,
educational status, residence, presence of chronic condition,
measures of anxiety or depression, emergency care in one year,
rates of self-care, functional status, quality of life, satisfaction
with care, rates of using out of hours services, specialist or
hospital services in users vs. non-users, multivariate predictive
model for users of alternative medicine.
Results:
1753 (81%)patients responded to the question on using alternative
services. 115/1753 (6,6%) patients reported to visits alternative
practitioner in 1997. Users of alternative medicine were of middle
age group, more likely had a chronic conditions, had lower perception
of quality of life, had grater presence of symptoms of anxiety
and depression and expressed grater needs for emergency treatment.
They were heavier users of primary as well secondary care services,
they have changed their GP recently but they were not significantly
dissatisfied with the GP with whom they were registered lately.
Three components explained 66,2% of the variance in visiting rates
to the alternative medicine practitioners: the first component
(self-care and visiting specialist of hospital in the same year),
the second component (change of a personal GP and a higher level
of formal education) and the third component (younger age).
Conclusions:
Seeking alternative medicine practices seems to be led by patient
characteristics which can be attributed to more active patient
involvement in managing their own problems. GPs should inquire
their patients about the use of practices especially in patients
who are more likely to seek such help.
