Do patients choose complementary medicine for objective or irrational reasons?

Problem and Objective: Complementary medicine is being used to varying extent in all industrial countries. There are incomplete data concerning efficacy, safety and costs of such treatment, while little is known about special features and motivation of those persons who choose complementary medicine. The aim of the study was to ascertain, among patients who use complementary medicine and those who prefer traditional medicine, any differences with regard to sociodemographic, disease-related and psychological caracteristics and their life-style. Patients and methods: A total of 419 patients were studied by a standardised interview and questionnaire (168 items) and divided into two groups (group 1: those using conventional treatment [n = 197; 91 women, 106 men; average age 43.2 +/- 16.9 years]; group 2: those preferring complementary medicine [n = 222; 159 women, 63 men; average age 43.2 +/- 15.0 years]). They were recruited from specialist internal medical or generalist medical practice with or without offer of complementary medicine (additional term: natural healing methods). Statistical analysis was with Student's-t-test and the gamma-test. Results: Those patients who chose to be treated by complementary medicine clearly differed from the others with respect to sociodermographic, disease-related and psychological characteristics, as well as life-style. The patient-doctor relationship also differed between the two groups. On average those of group Z had a higher educational level (higher education: 10.3% in group 1; 15.9 in group 2) and lower risk factors (68.9% nonsmokers in group 1, 77.8% in group 2; alcohol abstinence: 33.2 vs 46.4%). Patients in both groups preferred conventional medicine for serious diseases (cardiac infarct; tumour; AIDS). Conclusion: In general, those patients who choose complementary medicine have a healthier life-style. As the number of these patients is on the increase. Since as yet the efficacy, risks and costs of complementary medicine have been inadequately investigated, research in this area should be intensified.