Complementary therapy use amongst Emergency Medicine patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the percentage of Emergency Medicine patients using Complementary Therapies (CTs), to investigate what types of CTs are used most commonly, and to gauge the acceptability of studies of CT effectiveness in a hospital setting.


METHODS
Prospective cross sectional survey using a convenience sample of adult patients, presenting to the Emergency Care Centre at North Shore Hospital in Auckland, New Zealand between December 2004 and March 2006. The survey questionnaire collected demographic data, information on CT usage and attitudes to studies of CTs. Descriptive statistics with 95% confidence intervals are reported. Comparisons of proportions were made using Chi-Square or Fisher exact.


RESULTS
56.1% of participants had used a CT. Vitamins and minerals (21.2%), massage (13.4%), acupuncture (10.6%) were the most commonly used CTs. 53.3% of those using herbs or complementary medicines had not told their doctor. When compared to those who had not used CTs, respondents who had previously used CTs were both more likely to follow their doctor's advice to use a CT (71.7% vs. 55.3%, p=0.0035), and to participate in a study of CT effectiveness (65.0% vs. 45.4%, p=0.0007).


CONCLUSIONS
More than half the patients surveyed had used CT in the past and more than half had not told their doctor. The majority of Emergency Medicine patients would follow the advice of their doctor if a CT was advised, and would agree to participate in a study of CT effectiveness, suggesting that such studies are practical in a hospital setting.
Yates
K M
KM
Emergency Care Centre, North Shore Hospital, Private Bag 93503, Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand. kim.yates@waitematadhb.govt.nz
Armour
M J
MJ
Pena
A
A
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D037001:Directive Counseling; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage; D008875:Middle Aged; D008903:Minerals / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009520:New Zealand; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012650:Self Disclosure; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
D008903:Minerals; D014815:Vitamins