[Complementary medicine and patient contentedness - a survey]

Increasing popularity and concomitant application of complementary and conventional methods by patients and doctors in Germany.

To examine attitudes and patient contentedness.

Open, retrospective, postal survey in 1,582 female patients treated with complementary methods between 1991 and 1996, using a structured trilateral questionnaire.

Of 1,582 mailed questionnaires 808 (51%) were evaluable. About 50% of the patients in the survey felt that the results of their complementary treatment were 'very successful' (22%) or 'rather successful' (24%). 80% of the patients were 'very' oder 'rather satisfied' with the complementary treatment. This positive assessment was also found in patients without treatment success. 50% indicated a significant change in health behavior, more than two thirds indicated a change in life-style attitude. More than 90% of the patients would be ready to pay for part of their treatment. Half of the surveyed women used natural remedies without knowledge of their family doctor. Because of a low response rate of 50%, there is the possibility of selection bias which makes a cautious interpretation of these results necessary.

Because of the approaches and methods applied, complementary medicine is particularly suited to induce patient treatment satisfaction. Further studies are necessary to verify positive long-term health effects of complementary interventions and treatment.