Positive Health Online
Your Country
![[Image: http://www.abundanceandhealth.co.uk]](/img/original/BannerAvatar/2836.df7d2315253110ff5b3a566f94871f99.jpg "http://www.abundanceandhealth.co.uk")
![[Image: https://www.water-for-health.co.uk/]](/img/original/BannerAvatar/4046.12831f50177f8848ee87b8e94411d6b3.jpg "https://www.water-for-health.co.uk/")
![[Image: http://www.balens.co.uk]](/img/original/BannerAvatar/2148.50367fa908013fae0a7f1a171543ef92.jpg "http://www.balens.co.uk")
![[Image: http://www.drsgoodman.com/books-goodman/52-nutrition-and-cancer]](/img/original/BannerAvatar/1859.1296090fd8385e7ceff51c8011559097.jpg "http://www.drsgoodman.com/books-goodman/52-nutrition-and-cancer")
Research: THOMAS and colleagues,
Listed in Issue 67
Abstract
THOMAS and colleagues, Medical Centre Unit, School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK, k.j.thomas@sheffield.ac.uk, have attempted to estimate the use of complementary medicine in the UK based on the population.
Background
Claims are made for the increasing popularity of complementary health care, and some population based data are available for the USA and Australia to substantiate these claims, but to date no estimate has been made in the UK.
Methodology
A previously piloted questionnaire was posted to a random sample of 5010 adults in England in 1998. Questions were asked about contacts with practitioners of acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy, hypnotherapy, medical herbalism, osteopathy, and also reflexology and aromatherapy . Additional information was requested on the use of homeopathic and herbal remedies purchased over-the-counter.
Results
A response rate of about 60% was achieved. Respondents were older and more likely to be female than non-responders. After adjustment for this distribution, it was estimated that 10.6% of the adult population of England had visited at least one practitioner of the six most popular therapies in the past months. If all eight therapies, and also the use of over-the-counter remedies were included, the rate rises to 28.3% for the past 12 months, and 46.6% for lifetime use . An estimated 22 million visits were made to practitioners of the six more common therapies in 1998, and the annual out-of-pocket expenditure was estimated to be around £450 million in 1998 .
Conclusion
Complementary medicine makes a measurable contribution to first-contact primary care. As 90% of this is purchased privately, further research is urgently necessary into the cost-effectiveness of different therapies to facilitate equal and appropriate access via the NHS.
References
Thomas KJ, Nicholl JP, Coleman P. Use and expenditure on complementary medicine in England: a population based survey. Complementary Therapies in Medicine 9 (1):2-11. Mar 2001.
