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Patient Motivations for Using Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Department of Family Medicine, #11121 Coleman Pavilion, 11175 Campus Street, Loma Linda, CA 92350 jtesterman{at}som.llu.edu

Kelly R. Morton, PhD

Department of Family Medicine and the Department of Psychology, Loma Linda University

Rachel A. Mason, MS

Loma Linda University

Ann M. Ronan, PhD

Loma Linda University’s Department of Family Medicine

Although use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widespread, the underlying reasons patients choose CAM are not clearly understood. Several explanatory models have been suggested, including desire for personal control, compatibility with holistic beliefs, and dissatisfaction with conventional care. Methods: The relationship between CAM use and health functional status, desire for personal control over health, holistic beliefs, spirituality, and patient satisfaction were assessed in a mailed survey of 230 family practice outpatients using validated, multi-item measures. Patients with osteoarthritis, depression, or both were compared to healthy patients. Results: Holistic health beliefs, higher spirituality scores, and lower health functional status were predictive of more CAM use. Personal control over health and satisfaction with physicians were not. Conclusion: Patients use CAM when it is consistent with their worldview and conventional care is not relieving their symptoms.

Key Words: complementary and alternative medicine • self-help • patient satisfaction

Complementary Health Practice Review, Vol. 9, No. 2, 81-92 (2004)
DOI: 10.1177/1076167503261254


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