Higher earners seek more alternative care
CMAJ 1997;157:996
© Canadian Medical Association
The 199495 National Population Health Survey (NPHS), which was discussed recently in the Canadian Journal of Public Health, determined that 15% of respondents over age 15 had consulted an alternative health care provider in the year preceding the survey. For the NPHS, alternative care included chiropractic, acupuncture, naturopathy, homeopathy, relaxation therapy, spiritual healing, massage therapy, herbal medicine and other types of care.
The survey found that utilization increased according to schooling, with levels ranging from 11% for those with less than a high school education to 16% for those educated at a college or university. The same trend affected income levels. The most pronounced difference was between women with low incomes (12%) and women in the highest income group (20%).
Patterns of behaviour also varied according to geography. Women in British Columbia were almost 5 times more likely to visit an alternate care provider (24%) than their counterparts in the Atlantic region (5%). These differences may be partially explained by the variation in funding for alternative services under provincial health plans.
Respondents with diagnosed chronic conditions, especially those with more than one, were far more likely to seek alternative care than those with no chronic conditions. Twenty-six percent of respondents with 3 or more chronic conditions had consulted an alternative provider within the last year, compared with 9% of those with no chronic conditions.
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Percentage of Canadians consulting an alternative practitioner, 1994-95
Age-adjusted rates |
This column was written by Lynda Buske, chief, physician resources information planning, CMA. Readers may send potential research topics to Patrick Sullivan (sullip@cma.ca; 800 663-7336, x2126; fax 613 523-0937).
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