title: Use of alternative medications in patients with neurologic disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine alternative medication use in a neurology clinic population and to predict patients likely to use alternative medications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survey of 216 adults presenting to a university-affiliated neurology clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were queried regarding diagnosis, medications, satisfaction with medications, alternative medications, and demographics. Alternative medications were defined as herbal therapies, holistic therapies, minerals, or vitamins other than multiple vitamins. Frequencies were tabulated for categorical data; means and standard deviations were calculated for continuous data. Logistic regression was performed to predict use of alternative therapies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most frequent conditions seen in all subjects were headache, epilepsy, and stroke. Mean ratings of patients' satisfaction with their conventional medications and health were 6.8 +/- 2.64 and 6.4 +/- 2.23 on a 10-point scale, respectively. Forty subjects were taking alternative therapies. Regression analysis suggests that patients with higher levels of education are more likely to use alternative therapies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Forty of 216 subjects (18.5%) seen in the neurology clinic took alternative therapies. Increased educational level was associated with use of alternative therapies.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacy Practice and Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA. maryan1@uky.edu
authors.forename: Melody
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Mitzi S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003625:Data Collection; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D012648:Self Care