title: What patients expect from complementary therapy: a qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Complementary and alternative therapies have become popular with patients in Western countries. Studies have suggested motivations for patients' choosing a wide range of complementary therapies. Data on the expectations of patients who use complementary therapy are limited. We assessed the expectations of patients who use complementary therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients attending a British National Health Service (NHS) outpatient department that provided acupuncture, osteopathy, and homoeopathy were asked to complete a qualitative survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients expected symptom relief, information, a holistic approach, improved quality of life, self-help advice, and wide availability of such therapies on the NHS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physicians' understanding of patients' expectations of complementary therapies will help patients make appropriate and realistic treatment choices.
authors.affiliation: School of Integrated Health, University of Westminster, 115 New Cavendish St, London W1W 6UW, England, UK. j.richardson01@westminster.ac.uk
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Richardson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013222:State Medicine; D006113:United Kingdom