Abstract
Objective: We examined the factors related to consultations with both physicians and alternative practitioners, compared with visits to physicians only.
Methods: A telephone survey (random-digit dialling) collected information from 818 adults living in and around Saskatoon. Respondents reported consultations with alternative practitioners and physicians in the previous 12 months.
Results: Approximately one in five respondents had consulted both a physician and an alternative practitioner. Among respondents under 65 years of age, having one or more chronic medical conditions significantly increased the likelihood of concurrent use of care. Men, individuals suffering from back pain or migraines, those reporting an elevated level of distress, and those for whom spiritual values were important were also more likely to use both types of care.
Interpretation: Consultations with alternative care providers occur as an adjunct to, rather than a replacement of visits to physicians. Particular types of medical conditions as well as psychosocial and spiritual factors are determinants of concurrent use of physicians and alternative practitioners.
Résumé
Objectif: Nous avons examiné les facteurs reliés aux consultations avec les médecins de même qu’avec les thérapeutes alternatifs; nous les avons comparés aux visites effectuées seulement chez les médecins.
Méthodes: À l’aide d’un sondage téléphonique (prélèvement de numéros de téléphone au hasard), des renseignements ont été recueillis auprès de 818 résidentes et résidents de Saskatoon et des environs. Les personnes interrogées ont signalé les visites effectuées chez le thérapeute alternatif et le médecin au cours des 12 derniers mois.
Résultats: Environ 1 personne interrogée sur 5 (19.2%) avait consulté à la fois un médecin et un thérapeute alternatif. Chez les personnes âgées de moins de 65 ans et affligées d’un ou de plusieurs maux chroniques, les chances d’avoir recours aux deux médecines simultanément augmentaient de façon significative. Les hommes et les gens souffrant de maux de dos ou de migraines, ayant signalé un niveau élevé de douleur, ou attachant de l’importance aux valeurs spirituelles étaient également plus enclins à consulter à la fois médecins et thérapeutes alternatifs.
Interprétation: La consultation de thérapeutes alternatifs vient compléter les visites chez le médecin plutôt que de les remplacer. Les maux dont souffrent les patientes et les patients de même que les facteurs psychosociologiques et spirituels jouent un rôle déterminant dans le recours concomitant aux médecins et aux thérapeutes alternatifs.
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Muhajarine, N., Neudorf, C. & Martin, K. Concurrent Consultations with Physicians and Providers of Alternative Care: Results from a Population-based Study. Can J Public Health 91, 449–453 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404827
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404827