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Some study results mentioned in the article:
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Researchers estimate that Americans made 425 million
visits to alternative health care providers in 1990, a figure that
exceeded the number of visits to allopathic primary care physicians
during the same period. (By almost
100 million visits!)
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A 1994 survey of physicians from a wide array of
medical specialties (in Washington State, New Mexico, and Israel)
revealed that more than 60% recommended alternative therapies to their
patients at least once in the preceding year, while 38% had done so in
the previous month.
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Forty seven (47) percent of these physicians also
reported using alternative therapies themselves, while 23% incorporated
them into their practices
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The 2 most frequently endorsed benefits (alternative
care) were, "I get relief for my
symptoms, the pain or discomfort is less or goes away, I feel better,"
and "The treatment
works better for my particular health problem than standard medicine's."
According to the study author,
These responses suggest that the most influential or
salient factor in people's decision to use alternative health care may
be its preceived efficacy.
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The response,
"The treatment promotes health rather than just focusing on the
illness," was the third most frequently reported benefit.
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Relief of symptoms is the main benefit reported (the
perceived efficacy of alternative medicine being cited nearly twice as
often as other reported benefits).
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A central finding is that users of alternative
health care are no more dissatisfied with or distrustful of conventional
care than nonusers are.
Summary
Almost half of allopathic doctors themselves have used
some form of alternative medical treatment. People use it because they
think it works. All in all, this is one JAMA article you don't want to
miss!
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