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Utilization of unconventional treatments by persons with MS: is it alternative or complementary?
C E Schwartz1, E Laitin, S Brotman
1Behavioral Science Research Program, Frontier Science & Technology Research Foundation, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467-2104, USA. schwartz@jimmy.harvard.edu
Abstract:
This cross-sectional mail survey evaluated the prevalence and predictors of unconventional therapy (UT) utilization among 569 community-based people with MS. One-third reported having visited a UT practitioner in the last 6 months. Utilizers tended to report at least one medical comorbidity, earn at least $50,000 a year, and engage in preventive health behaviors; they also used more outpatient services and reported higher levels of interpersonal quality of care with their allopathic MS care provider than did nonutilizers. We conclude that UT is complementary to allopathic medicine for people with MS.