[Alternative methods of therapy in rheumatic diseases]

Four hundred and forty patients with various rheumatic diseases were tested. We asked their opinion regarding an eventual attempt to treat their disease by alternative methods of treatment, about the success of treatment, their relationship to these methods before and after treatment. Among the investigated persons there were 218 women and 222 men. Thirty per cent (134) tried out one or more methods of alternative treatment. As regards the number, among our patients those with lumbar syndrome hold first place (N = 151), followed by those with rheumatoid arthritis (N = 123). Thirty per cent of patients with lumbar syndrome and 51% of those with rheumatoid arthritis tried out one or more methods of alternative treatment. In both groups of patients, a significantly longer duration of treatment was established (p < 0.005). In the patients with rheumatoid arthritis the most frequently chosen method was acupuncture (62%), in patients with lumbar syndrome it was chiropraxis (76%). From among the total number of patients trying out alternative methods of treatment (N = 134), before treatment 79% had a positive and only 3% negative relationship to it. Eighteen per cent, evaluated this kind of treatment merely as an experiment or were indifferent to it. After the treatment, only 37% of the previous 79% still had a positive opinion, while the share of negative opinions increased from 3% to 32%, 31% of the patients were indifferent. After the treatment, 36% of our patients with rheumatoid arthritis who had tried out alternative methods of treatment still had a positive relationship, while 41% had a negative and 23% an indifferent relationship to this kind of treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)