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The perceived benefit and satisfaction from conventional and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in people
1Oregon Health & Science University, Department of Neurology, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, L226, Portland, OR 97239, USA. shintol@ohsu.edu
Objective:
To describe the perceived benefit and satisfaction from complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and conventional therapies and providers in MS.
Design:
Cross-sectional mailed survey.
Setting:
One thousand nine hundred and thirteen respondents who were members of the Oregon Chapter of the National MS Society.
Results:
The benefit rating of both conventional therapies and providers was significantly higher than for CAM therapies and providers (p < 0.001 and < 0.001). When stratifying satisfaction rating by MS disease severity, significant differences were found between CAM providers and neurologists, favoring CAM providers in those with moderate disease severity (p = 0.014) and favoring neurologists in those with severe disease severity (p = 0.032). CAM providers were rated significantly higher than MDs on the following: listening skills (p < 0.001), care and concern (p < 0.001), and patient empowerment (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
Although MS patients report significant benefit from conventional therapies and providers; they may seek CAM providers for emotional support. The impact of emotional support gained from providers on quality of life in MS warrant further investigation.
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