The health beliefs, experiences and personality of Japanese patients seeking orthodox vs complementary medicine.
OBJECTIVE
This study compared the personality traits, health beliefs and 'medical experiences' of Japanese patients of both orthodox (OM) and complementary medicine (CM). DESIGN AND OUTCOME MEASURE: Altogether, ninety-eight Japanese patients completed a questionnaire. This looked at the types of illness they had had, medical history, satisfaction with GP, general health beliefs and three personality dimensions.


RESULTS
No differences were seen between the two medical groups on medical history and general health beliefs. However, significant differences on present illness, satisfaction with their GP and two personality traits (agreeableness, conscientiousness) were found between the groups. The CM patients appeared to be less satisfied with orthodox medicine, less agreeable and more conscientious compared to the GP group.


CONCLUSIONS
The results imply that the combination of the type of illness, the level of patient's satisfaction and their personality tendency in part determines their choice of practitioner. This study based in Japan replicated many of the findings already established in the West. It also uniquely added an examination of personality differences.
Sugimoto
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Department of Psychology, University College London, UK.
Furnham
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods*; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005194:Family Practice / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010551:Personality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires