[Attitudes of immigrants from the former Soviet Union towards complementary medicine]

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in primary care in Israel is growing. Limited data is available on the influence of immigration and cross-cultural health-beliefs concerning CAM use.

This study explores the perspectives toward CAM of immigrants who came to Israel since 1990 from the former Soviet Union.

Questionnaires were administered to a random sample of patients attending an urban academic primary care clinic located in Northern Israel.

Out of 1146 participants in this study, 106 were immigrants from the former Soviet-Union. No statistical significance was found in the extent of CAM use in the last year among immigrants (63%) and non-immigrants (54%). Immigrants using CAM reported significantly less in reference to CAM practitioners and more use of herbal products. They also more significantly supported the idea of including an herbal therapist in the clinical staff at the medical center. Both groups expected their family physician to refer them to CAM, but immigrants had significantly higher expectations of their physician to provide CAM. Both groups anticipated an active role for their family physician in a future scenario of integrative care at the clinic.

The use of CAM in primary care can be interpreted in a cross-cultural perspective. Patients who emigrated from the former USSR have unique perspectives toward CAM. The authors propose practical suggestions for primary care clinicians concerning anamnesis of immigrants regarding CAM. They also suggest health administrators take into account cross-cultural diversity when planning integration of CAM in primary care.