Incidence of complementary therapy use in patients undergoing vestibular assessment.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence of use of complementary therapies in patients with vestibular symptoms undergoing vestibular assessment.


METHODS
A prospective, questionnaire-based study.


METHODS
A UK university hospital department of audiology with secondary and tertiary referrals.


METHODS
A consecutive series of 80 patients seen for vestibular assessment between November 2004 and May 2005.


METHODS
Use of complementary therapies; actual therapies used and patients' subjective opinion of efficacy.


RESULTS
Thirteen patients (16 per cent) had tried some form of complementary therapy for their vestibular symptoms. Ginkgo biloba and acupuncture were the two most popular treatments. Seven patients made their decision as to which treatment to try on the basis of personal recommendation. Six of the 13 patients (46 per cent) reported that their choice of treatment(s) helped them.


CONCLUSIONS
Sixteen per cent of patients seen for vestibular assessment had tried some form of complementary therapy for their vestibular symptoms. Clinicians should be aware of this and of the potential interactions between complementary therapies and conventional medicine.
Baguley
David M
DM
Department of Audiology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK. dmb29@cam.ac.uk
Humphriss
Rachel L
RL
Butler
Katy
K
Knight
Richard
R
Dawson
Lisa
L
Vickers
Fiona
F
Mitchell
Alice
A
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D005260:Female; D020441:Ginkgo biloba; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010358:Patient Participation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*