Positive Health Online

Abstract

KERSNIK, Slovenia, studied an array of characteristics of patients using alternative medicine.

Background

Methodology

The authors, using a stratified sample of 36 GP surgeries in Slovenia, set out to evaluate patient characteristics, morbidity, functional status, quality of life, satisfaction with care, practice characteristics and health care use in general practice patients using alternative medicine. The main output data included patient's age, sex, educational status, residence, presence of chronic condition, incidence of anxiety or depressive symptoms, incidence of patient-expressed need for emergency care in one year, data on self-care, functional status, quality of life, satisfaction with care, incidence of use of out-of-hours services and specialist or hospital services in users versus non-users.

Results

115/1753 patients (6.6%) reported visits to alternative practitioners in 1997. Those patients using alternative medicine were from midlife age groups, were more likely to have a chronic condition, had a lower perception of life quality and a higher incidence of anxiety and depressive symptoms and had had more need for emergency treatment. These patients were heavier users of primary and secondary care services, have changed their GP recently yet are not significantly dissatisfied with their current regular GP.

Conclusion

Patients with a more active approach to managing their health problems use alternative medicine. GPs should enquire from their patients about use of alternative medicine, particularly those more likely to seek such help. Raising the question of alternative medicine will improve doctor-patient communication and help to resolve underlying health problems.

References

Kersnik J. Predictive characteristics of users of alternative medicine. Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift. Journal Suisse de Medicine 130(11): 390-4. 18 Mar 2000.