Homeopathy and naturopathy: practice characteristics and pediatric care.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the practice characteristics and pediatric care of homeopathic practitioners (HPs) and naturopathic doctors (NDs).


METHODS
Cross-sectional, descriptive survey.


METHODS
Homeopathic and naturopathic practices in Massachusetts.


METHODS
Homeopathic practitioners (N = 42) and NDs (N = 23) identified from the yellow pages, regional and national society membership lists, schools, magazine advertisements, and by word-of-mouth. The response rate was 55% (23/42) for HPs and 65% (15/23) for NDs.


METHODS
Demographics, practice characteristics, fee structure, and amount of pediatric care. Practitioners were asked for their approach to childhood immunizations and to treating a febrile neonate. Data were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics.


RESULTS
Almost all respondents were white. Among the HPs, 13 (57%) were licensed medical doctors. Naturopathic doctors and HPs reported having an average of only 25 to 40 patient visits per week, but children and adolescents accounted for up to one third of these visits. Nearly all reported treating children, but fewer than half of the practitioners reported any formal pediatric training. Initial patient visits typically lasted more than 1 hour and cost $140 to $150. Follow-up visits were scheduled every 4 to 6 weeks and lasted more than 30 minutes on average. Insurance covered less than one third of the patient visits, and sliding scale payments were offered by less than half of the respondents. Most practitioners reported that they did not actively recommend immunizations and fewer than half of the nonphysician practitioners reported that they would refer a 2-week-old neonate with a fever to a medical doctor or emergency medical facility.


CONCLUSIONS
Many patients using homeopathy and naturopathy are children. Visits to these providers are frequent and fees are primarily paid out-of-pocket. Failure on the part of these providers to recommend immunizations or recognize potentially serious illnesses is cause for concern.
Lee
A C
AC
Center for Holistic Pediatric Education and Research, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass 02115, USA.
Kemper
K J
KJ
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D019538:Health Care Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006705:Homeopathy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D008875:Middle Aged; D009324:Naturopathy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010372:Pediatrics; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*