Users of unconventional practitioners: a profile of 26 year old New Zealanders.
OBJECTIVE
To profile 26 year old New Zealand users of unconventional practitioners.


METHODS
977 members of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study participating in the age-26 assessment (1998-1999) answered questions about twelve-month service use, education, income, recent medical history, current health status and avoidance of medical situations.


RESULTS
10% had used an unconventional practitioner in the previous twelve months. The majority (88%) had also used a conventional practitioner. Those using both types of practitioner were heavy users of health services (twelve visits/year). Compared to those who used conventional practitioners exclusively, they had significantly higher incomes and were more likely to report a serious injury, a current disability, a history of back problems, role limitations due to physical health problems, and more bodily pain (all p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
26 year old New Zealand users of unconventional practitioners have a similar profile to their counterparts in other developed countries. It appears that their health needs are not fully met by conventional services, emphasising the need for more research into the aetiology and treatment of ailments (e.g. back pain) for which unconventional practitioners are commonly sought. The Medical Council of New Zealand guidelines on unconventional medicine are discussed in light of these findings.
Milne
B J
BJ
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago.
Waldie
K E
KE
Poulton
R
R
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires