Expectations of patients and parents of children with asthma regarding access to complementary therapy information and services via the NHS: a qualitative study.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the expectations of patients and parents of children with asthma regarding access to complementary therapies via the NHS.


METHODS
Fifty semi-structured interviews with adults and parents of children with asthma, from a range of health-care settings, including users and non-users of complementary therapies. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and the data were analysed thematically.


RESULTS
Thirty-one patients were using complementary therapies for asthma, six were using complementary therapies for other health problems and 13 were non-users. Various therapies were used for asthma, most commonly homeopathy and breathing techniques, predominantly outside the NHS. Two broad themes emerging from the data were expectations about access to information and knowledge about complementary therapies via NHS health professionals, and expectations regarding access to complementary therapy services via the NHS. As a minimum, the majority of participants wanted NHS health professionals to be more 'open' towards and know more about complementary therapies than their patients - perceived as not currently usual. Most were positive about greater NHS access to complementary therapy services, for enhancing patient choice, improving equality in access for less affluent patients and facilitating patients' self-help. Participants who were highly sceptical about complementary therapies argued that lack of scientific evidence of effectiveness prohibited the need for greater complementary therapy knowledge or service provision within the NHS. Alongside their expectations, patients and parents expressed realistic views about facilitators and barriers to greater access.


CONCLUSIONS
While health service planners and providers often express reservations about the value of complementary therapies, it is important to take patients' preferences into account if policy discourses regarding patient-centred care and choice are to be realized in practice.
Shaw
Alison
A
Academic Unit of Primary Health Care, Department of Community Based Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. ali.hawood@bristol.ac.uk
Thompson
Elizabeth A
EA
Sharp
Deborah J
DJ
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D004739:England; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services / Q000600:supply & distribution; D010290:Parents; D013222:State Medicine