Use of complementary medicine among outpatients with dermatologic conditions within Yorkshire and South Wales, United Kingdom.
BACKGROUND
The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasing throughout the Western world, particularly by patients with chronic disease. In 1999, 20% of the United Kingdom population reported that they had used CAM in the preceding 12 months.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to investigate the use of CAM by outpatients with general dermatologic conditions in 3 United Kingdom cities: Leeds (North England), and Cardiff and Swansea (South Wales).


METHODS
Independently constructed, anonymous, self-directed questionnaires were designed and distributed to 400 consecutive outpatients with dermatologic conditions in Leeds and 637 consecutive outpatients with dermatologic conditions in Cardiff and Swansea.


RESULTS
In Leeds 302/400 questionnaires were fully completed with 39% patients having used CAM. In South Wales 415/637 questionnaires were fully completed with 34% having used CAM. Of these, 45% of patients in Leeds and 50% of patients in South Wales were using CAM to treat their dermatologic condition. The most popular treatments in Leeds, Cardiff, and Swansea were herbal medicine and homeopathy.


CONCLUSIONS
These results were obtained from outpatients with dermatologic conditions in the United Kingdom and may not be applicable to other populations.


CONCLUSIONS
More than one third of outpatients with general dermatologic conditions in two geographically distant regions are using CAM. More than 45% of these patients used CAM to treat their dermatologic condition.
Baron
Susannah E
SE
Dermatology Department of The General Infirmary, Leeds, United Kingdom.
Goodwin
Richard G
RG
Nicolau
Nicolas
N
Blackford
Sharon
S
Goulden
Victoria
V
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D002648:Child; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom