Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2004; 9: 33
The objectives of this study were to determine (i) what working relationship CAM practitioners and medical doctors (MDs) prefer or find acceptable, (ii) whether there is agreement in the responses of CAM practitioners and MDs and (iii) whether expressed opinions differ by CAM modalities.
A cross-sectional random sample of CAM practitioners (acupuncturists, chiropractors, massage therapists, naturopathic doctors, homoeopaths and herbalists) (n = 1120) and MDs (n = 413) from Alberta and British Columbia, Canada, were mailed a questionnaire at three time points in 2003. In total, 457 questionnaires from CAM practitioners (response rate 41%) and 85 from MDs (response rate 21%) were returned. Participants were asked to rate four models of integration (independent model, collaborative model, supervised model, MDs providing CAM therapies model) for six CAM therapies (acupuncture, chiropractic, massage therapy, naturopathy, homoeopathy and herbology).
The collaborative model was rated as the most acceptable by all CAM practitioners and MDs across all therapies. The least acceptable model, for both CAM practitioners and MDs, was MDs providing CAM therapies. CAM practitioners and MDs disagreed on the acceptability of the independent model and the supervised model; these differences were statistically significant.
A collaborative working relationship is preferred by both CAM practitioners and physicians. An integrative healthcare system would need to faciliate such working relations.
This study was supported by grants from the Lotte and John Hecht Memorial Foundation, the Tao Foundation and the Norlien Foundation.
