Post on 07-Jan-2016
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Alternative Medicine in the U.S.
James G. Anderson, Ph.D.
Purdue University
Introduction
" Alternative Medicine encompasses approaches to patients and illnesses that are either not widely taught or practiced in conventional medical schools or that challenge commonly assumed viewpoints of the dominant professional health care system in the United
States." (Hughes, Ellen M.D, 1997)
Treating the patient’s whole body using a “holistic approach”
“The 1993 Eisenberg Study revealed that about one-third of Americans were using alternative therapies and spending nearly $14 billion annually for health care.” (Budrys, Grace, 2001)
Introduction
Alternative medicine is broken up into subcategories: Mind/Body Control Alternative Systems of Medical Practice Manual Healing Herbal Medicine
According to the NCCAM, Americans mostly use it for back, neck, head, or joint aches. Also to treat or prevent musculoskeletal conditions or other conditions involving chronic or recurring pain.
Types of Alternative Medicine
Acupuncture Aromatherapy Chiropractic Herbal Medicine Homeopathy Massage Nutritional Supplements
Introduction
It is becoming more widely used, and socially and politically accepted in the United States.
The supply of alternative medicine clinicians are expected to grow by 88 percent between 1994 and 2010.
According to a survey given by Dr. John Astin, clients usually use alternative medicine for the following three reasons: They are dissatisfied in some way with conventional
treatment. Alternative health care offers more personal control. The alternatives are more compatible with the patients’
values and beliefs.
Alternative Health Care:A New Social Movement
Lies outside of the existing institutional arrangements
Information is shared through Web sites, cooperative stores, organic farming, health fairs, lectures, etc.
Opportunities for miracle cures, scams and frauds blossom when the movement is non-institutionalized
Studies of Unconventional Medicine in the U.S.
David Eisneberg 1993 David Eisenberg 1998 Goldstein 1999
Objective
To document trends in alternative medicine use in the U.S. between 1990 and 1997.
Design
Nationally representative random household telephone surveys using comparable key questions were conducted in 1991 and 1997 measuring utilization in 1990 and 1997, respectively.
A total of 1539 adults in 1991 and 2055 in 1997.
Prevalence, estimated costs and disclosure of alternative therapies to physicians were measured.
Other countries% of population who used alternative medicine during the past 12 months
10% Denmark 15% Canada 33% Finland 49% Australia
Types of Alternative Therapies
Relaxation techniques Herbal medicine Massage Chiropractic Spiritual healing Megavitamins Self-help group Imagery
Types of Alternative Therapies
Commercial diet Folk remedies Lifestyle diet Energy healing Homeopathy Hypnosis Biofeedback Acupuncture
Results
Use of at least 1 of 16 alternative therapies during the previous year increased from 33.8% in 1990 to 42.1% in 1997.
The probability of users visiting an alternative medicine practitioner increased from 36.3% to 46.3%.
Results
Therapies increasing the most included: herbal medicine Massage megavitamins self-help groups folk remedies energy healing homeopathy
ResultsAlternative therapies used most frequently for:
Back problems Anxiety Depression Headaches
Disclosure of Alternative Therapies to Physicians
1990: 38.5% 1997: 38.5%
Percentage of Users Paying Entirely Out-of-Pocket for Alternative Therapies
1990: 64% 1997: 68.3%
Total Visits to Alternative Medicine Practitioners in the U.S.
Alternative Practitioners
1990: 427 million 1997:629 million
Primary Care Physicians
1990: 387 million 1997:385 million
Estimated Total Expenditures for Alternative Medicine Services
1990: $14.6 billion 1997: $21.2 billion
Why Patients use Alternative Medicine
National study of why people in the U.S. use alternative medicine.
Objective – to investigate predictors of alternative health care use.
HypothesesPeople seek alternative medicine because:
(1) they are dissatisfied with conventional treatment. (2) they see alternative medicine as offering more
personal autonomy and control over health care decisions.
(3) the alternatives are seen as more compatible with their beliefs, values, and world view.
Design
Written survey examining use of alternative health care and attitudes toward conventional medicine.
1035 individuals were randomly selected who lived throughout the United States.
Results Predictors of use of alternative medicine:
More education Poorer health status Chronic health problems Holistic orientation to health Experience that changed their world view Membership in cultural groups such as
environmentalism, feminism, spiritualism Believing in the importance of body, mind, and spirit in
treating health problems Perceived efficacy (relief of symptoms)
Results Predictors of use by those who primarily use alternative medicine:
Distrust of conventional physicians and hospitals Desire for control over health decisions Dissatisfaction with conventional practitioners Belief in importance of one’s inner life
Legitimating Alternative Health Care The U.S. Congress prohibited the FDA from
regulating herbal products Professional Associations formed, e.g.,
American Holistic Medical Association NIH created the National Center for
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Today 64% of medical schools have at least
one course on alternative medicine Growing third-party reimbursement
Resistance to Alternative Medicine Medicine feels a threat to their scientific
legitimacy. They argue there is no scientific evidence to support most alternative medicine
Demonstrating effectiveness of alternative medicine through clinical trials runs counter to the holistic emphasis on patient empowerment, individualized treatment regimens, multiple modalities
Alternative medicine threatens physicians’ income
The Future of Alternative Medicine
Institutionalization of alternative medicine
The pharmaceutical companies are profiting from the increased popularity of herbs, minerals, vitamins
Alternative/Complementary health care practitioners and clinics will focus more on profit making services
The Future of Alternative Medicine
Managed care organizations and HMOs have begun incorporating elements of alternative medicine in order to reduce costs
Alternative health care practitioners will adopt the model of expertise that characterizes the medical profession where the doctor is the expert and monopolized information
The Future of Alternative Medicine Alternative health care modalities that
are the least holistic are likely to be the only ones that survive the scrutiny of biomedical research.
Branches of alternative medicine that are fundamentally incompatible with conventional medicine will be marginalized.
The movement will lose its creativity and innovativeness