Positive Health Online

Abstract

SHMUELI and SHUVAL, Israel, have studied the satisfaction of CAM users with their GPs.

Background

Higher utilization of complementary and alternative medicine is commonly explained by dissatisfaction or disappointment with conventional medical treatment. The aim of this study was to explore the associations between six domains of satisfaction with conventional family physicians’ and specialists’ services and the likelihood of consulting CAM providers.

Methodology

This was a secondary analysis of interviews, which were conducted with 2000 persons in 1993 and 2500 persons in 2000, representing the Israeli Jewish urban population aged 45-75 in those years. Six domains of satisfaction (attitude, length of visits, availability, information sharing, perceived quality of care and overall) were explored at two points in time. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used in the investigation.

Results

In 1993, users of CAM were less satisfied than non-users with both family physicians’ and specialists’ care. Lower satisfaction with the attitude of, the amount of information sharing by and in general with family physicians, and with the length of visits and perceived quality of care of specialists were significantly associated with CAM use. In 2000, lower satisfaction with specialists’ attitude, length of visits, availability and in general was significantly related to the use of CAM.

Conclusion

With CAM becoming a mainstream medical care specialty in its own, lower satisfaction with conventional medicine specialists becomes the most important factor to influence patients’ choice.

References

Shmueli A, Shuval J. Satisfaction with Family Physicians and Specialists and the use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Israel. Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine: eCAM 3 (2): 273-278, Jun 2006.