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Complementary medicine: use and attitudes among GPs

A R White¹, K L Resch, E Ernst

¹Department of Complementary Medicine, Postgraduate Medical School, University of Exeter, UK.

Family Practice

|August 1, 1997

Summary

Most GPs in Devon and Cornwall have engaged with complementary medicine, with many recommending therapies like acupuncture and chiropractic. A significant portion believe these should be NHS-funded.

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Area of Science:

General Practice
Complementary Medicine
Health Services Research

Background:

General Practitioners' (GPs) use and attitudes toward complementary medicine (CM) are crucial for integrating it into mainstream healthcare.
Public use of CM is notably high in England's South-West region.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the prevalence of complementary medicine use and attitudes among General Practitioners (GPs).

Main Methods:

A questionnaire survey was distributed to primary care physicians in Devon and Cornwall.
461 GPs responded, yielding a 47% response rate.

Main Results:

68% of responding GPs had recent involvement with complementary medicine.
16% practiced CM (homoeopathy, acupuncture most common), 25% referred patients, and 55% recommended CM.
Acupuncture, chiropractic, and osteopathy were deemed most effective and recommended for NHS funding; 38% reported adverse effects, primarily from manipulation.

Conclusions:

A high proportion of GPs in Devon and Cornwall (over two-thirds) reported recent engagement with complementary medicine, exceeding national averages.
The majority of surveyed GPs consider acupuncture, chiropractic, and osteopathy effective and advocate for their inclusion in NHS funding.

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