Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2005; 10: 46
To evaluate patient health outcomes resulting from the provision of a CAM primary care service in north London
Acupuncture, aromatherapy, homoeopathy, massage and osteopathy were made available free of charge by Get Well UK through GP referral to patients with specified chronic conditions. Evaluation forms for patients, GPs and practitioners were built into the service provision at the outset. The Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile (MYMOP) was used to measure changes in health status.
Three quarters of GPs in the locality made at least one referral to the service. Patients were more likely to be female, from disadvantaged and ethnic minority backgrounds and unable to pay for CAM privately. Musculoskeletal problems accounted for 72% of referrals; most patients had complex coexisting morbidities. Comparison of patients pre and post treatment demonstrated a significant reduction in severity of self-reported symptoms, and increase in activity, quality of life and well-being as measured by MYMOP (Z = −5.49, P < 0.001). Seventy-five per cent of patients reported a significant reduction in worry about their condition post treatment. Mean MYMOP scores were significantly correlated with practitioners’ perceptions of patients’ reduction in worry (P = 0.038), improved quality of life (P < 0.001), symptom relief (P = 0.002) and emotional stability (P = 0.004).
Recording, monitoring and evaluating CM provision in primary care is important. Evaluation demonstrated that an integrated CAM pathway could address complex health profiles and that patient health improvement could be demonstrated through patient-centred outcomes. Research into the cost-effectiveness of this service has commenced.
