The continuing use of complementary and alternative medicine in South Australia: costs and beliefs in 2004

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorMacLennan, A.
dc.contributor.authorMyers, S.
dc.contributor.authorTaylor, A.
dc.date.issued2006
dc.descriptionThe document attached has been archived with permission from the editor of the Medical Journal of Australia. An external link to the publisher’s copy is included.
dc.description.abstractObjective: To survey the use, cost, beliefs and quality of life of users of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Design: A representative population survey conducted in 2004 with longitudinal comparison to similar 1993 and 2000 surveys. Participants: 3015 South Australian respondents over the age of 15 years (71.7% participation). Results: In 2004, CAMs were used by 52.2% of the population. Greatest use was in women aged 25–34 years, with higher income and education levels. CAM therapists had been visited by 26.5% of the population. In those with children, 29.9% administered CAMs to them and 17.5% of the children had visited CAM therapists. The total extrapolated cost in Australia of CAMs and CAM therapists in 2004 was AUD$1.8 billion, which was a decrease from AUD$2.3 billion in 2000. CAMs were used mostly to maintain general health. The users of CAM had lower quality-of-life scores than non-users. Among CAM users, 49.7% used conventional medicines on the same day and 57.2% did not report the use of CAMs to their doctor. About half of the respondents assumed that CAMs were independently tested by a government agency; of these, 74.8% believed they were tested for quality and safety, 21.8% for what they claimed, and 17.9% for efficacy. Conclusions: Australians continue to use high levels of CAMs and CAM therapists. The public is often unaware that CAMs are not tested by the Therapeutic Goods Administration for efficacy or safety.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityAlastair H MacLennan, Stephen P Myers and Anne W Taylor
dc.identifier.citationMedical Journal of Australia, 2006; 184(1):27-31
dc.identifier.doi10.5694/j.1326-5377.2006.tb00092.x
dc.identifier.issn0025-729X
dc.identifier.issn1326-5377
dc.identifier.orcidTaylor, A. [0000-0002-4422-7974]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/23151
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherAustralasian Med Publ Co Ltd
dc.source.urihttp://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/184_01_020106/mac10324_fm.html
dc.subjectHumans
dc.subjectComplementary Therapies
dc.subjectHealth Care Surveys
dc.subjectLongitudinal Studies
dc.subjectHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
dc.subjectQuality of Life
dc.subjectSocioeconomic Factors
dc.subjectAdolescent
dc.subjectAdult
dc.subjectAged
dc.subjectMiddle Aged
dc.subjectHealth Expenditures
dc.subjectSouth Australia
dc.subjectFemale
dc.subjectMale
dc.titleThe continuing use of complementary and alternative medicine in South Australia: costs and beliefs in 2004
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
23151_hdl.pdf
Size:
278.8 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Published version
Download

Collections

Obstetrics and Gynaecology publications