Positive Health Online

Abstract

RAWSTHORNE and colleagues, Department of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada write that there appears to be a perception of an increasing and widespread use of alternative medicine for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) . The authors assessed usage of alternative therapies in IBD patients and contrasted usage in 4 different centres in North America and Europe.

Background

Methodology

Patients from 4 IBD centres (Cork, Los Angeles, Stockholm and Winnipeg) completed a self-administered questionnaire regarding alternative medicine. Patient demographics, use of 18 types of alternative medicine and attitudes towards alternative and conventional medicine were compared.

Results

51% of 289 patients used some type of alternative medicine. The 6 most commonly used therapies, in descending order were: exercise (28%); prayer (18%); counselling (13%); massage (11%); chiropractic (11%) and relaxation (10%). 7% used acupuncture or homoeopathy and 5% used herbal medicine . The highest odds ratios for using any form of alternative medicine were associated with being single 3.1, a Los Angeles patient 4.4, Winnipeg patient 2.7 and an increase of alternative medicine use of 2.7% for every MD visit. Patient age, gender, disease diagnosis or duration of disease were not predictive of any type of alternative medicine use. Respondents from Cork were the most favourable towards alternative medicine use and least favourable toward conventional medicine. Subjects were more likely to use alternative medicine if they were not satisfied with conventional therapy, viewed hospitals as dangerous places, thought that alternative medicine practitioners should have a role in hospitals and felt their medical situation was hopeless.

Conclusion

51% of respondents used some form of alternative medicine. Use was greater among North American patients than European ones. Respondents were more likely to use alternative medicine if they were single, in a higher income bracket and an urban dweller.

References

Rawsthorne P et al. An international survey of the use and attitudes regarding alternative medicine by patients with inflammatory bowel disease. American Journal of Gastroenterology 94(5): 1298-303. May 1999.