Why do people use complementary and alternative medicine CAM techniques?

  1. Baer HA. Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Processes of Legitimation, Professionalization, and Cooption. In: The New Blackwell Companion to Medical Sociology; 2010. p. 373–90.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Briggs JP. Complementary, alternative and integrative health practices. In: Kasper D, Fauci A, Hauser S, Longo D, Jameson JL, Loscalzo J, editors. Harrison’s principles of internal medicine. 19th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Frass M, Strassl RP, Friehs H, Mullner M, Kundi M, Kaye AD. Use and acceptance of complementary and alternative medicine among the general population and medical personnel: a systematic review. Ochsner J. 2012;12(1):45–56.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Harris PE, Cooper KL, Relton C, Thomas KJ. Prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use by the general population: a systematic review and update. Int J Clin Pract. 2012;66(10):924–39.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Wiles J, Rosenberg MW. ‘Gentle caring experience’. Seeking alternative health care in Canada. Health Place. 2001;7(3):209–24.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Eisenberg DM, Davis RB, Ettner SL, Appel S, Wilkey S, Van Rompay M, et al. Trends in alternative medicine use in the United States, 1990-1997: results of a follow-up national survey. Jama. 1998;280(18):1569–75.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Fisher P, Ward A. Medicine in Europe: complementary medicine in Europe. BMJ. 1994;309(6947):107–11.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Astin JA. Why patients use alternative medicine: results of a national study. Jama. 1998;279(19):1548–53.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Kelner M, Wellman B. Health care and consumer choice: medical and alternative therapies. Soc Sci Med. 1997;45(2):203–12.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Kemppainen LM, Kemppainen TT, Reippainen JA, Salmenniemi ST, Vuolanto PH. Use of complementary and alternative medicine in Europe: health-related and sociodemographic determinants. Scand J Public Health. 2018;46(4):448–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Eikemo TA, Bambra C, Huijts T, Fitzgerald R. The first pan-European sociological health inequalities survey of the general population: the European social survey rotating module on the social determinants of health. Eur Sociol Rev. 2016;33(1):137–53.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Wendt C. Changing healthcare system types. Soc Policy Adm. 2014;48(7):864–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Bank W. Health expenditure per capita (current US$). 2014a. From: http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.XPD.PCAP. Accessed 30 Jan 2017.

  14. WHO. WHO Health in Transition Series. 2017. From: http://www.euro.who.int/en/about-us/partners/observatory/publications/health-system-reviews-hits. Accessed 30 Jan 2017.

  15. Salomonsen LJ, Skovgaard L, la Cour S, Nyborg L, Launsø L, Fønnebø V. Use of complementary and alternative medicine at Norwegian and Danish hospitals. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2011;11(1):4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Fonnebo V, Launso L. High use of complementary and alternative medicine inside and outside of the government-funded health care system in Norway. J Altern Complement Med (New York, NY). 2009;15(10):1061–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Bremer P. Forgone care and financial burden due to out-of-pocket payments within the German health care system. Heal Econ Rev. 2014;4(1):36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Fjaer EL, Stornes P, Borisova LV, McNamara CL, Eikemo TA. Subjective perceptions of unmet need for health care in Europe among social groups: Findings from the European social survey (2014) special module on the social determinants of health. Eur J Public Health. 2017;27(suppl_1):82–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Reibling N. Healthcare systems in Europe: towards an incorporation of patient access. J Eur Soc Policy. 2010;20(1):5–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Barnes PM, Powell-Griner E, McFann K, Nahin RL. Complementary and alternative medicine use among adults: United States. Adv Data. 2002;2004(343):1–19.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Davis MA, Weeks WB, Coulter ID. A proposed conceptual model for studying the use of complementary and alternative medicine. Altern Ther Health Med. 2011;17(5):32–6.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Debas HT, Laxminarayan R, Straus SE. Complementary and alternative medicine. In: Jamison DT, Breman JG, Measham AR, editors. editors Disease control priorities in developing countries 2nd edition Washington (DC): the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / the World Bank; 2006 chapter 69. New York: Oxford University Press; 2006.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Huijts T, Monden CWS, Kraaykamp G. Education, educational Heterogamy, and self-assessed health in Europe: a multilevel study of spousal effects in 29 European countries. Eur Sociol Rev. 2009;26(3):261–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Klinteberg MA. Editorial (part I): the history and present scope of physical therapy. Int J Technol Assess Health Care. 1992;8(1):4–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Ning AM. How ‘alternative’ is CAM? Rethinking conventional dichotomies between biomedicine and complementary/alternative medicine. Health (London, England : 1997). 2013;17(2):135–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Bank W. Out-of-pocket health expenditure (% of total expenditure on health). 2014b. From: http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.XPD.OOPC.TO.ZS. Accessed 30 Jan 2017.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Bank W. Physicians (per 1,000 people). 2014c. From: http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.MED.PHYS.ZS. Accessed 30 Jan 2017.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Reibling N, Wendt C. Gatekeeping and provider choice in OECD healthcare systems. Curr Sociol. 2012;60(4):489–505.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Masseria C, Irwin R, Thomson S, Gemmill M, Mossialos E. Primary care in Europe. Policy brief. London: The London School of Economics and Political Science; 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Snijders T, Bosker R. Multilevel analysis: an introduction to basic and applied multilevel analysis (2nd edition). London: Sage; 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Bryan ML, Jenkins SP. Multilevel Modelling of country effects: a cautionary tale. Eur Sociol Rev. 2015;32(1):3–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Bishop FL, Lewith GT. Who uses CAM? A narrative review of demographic characteristics and health factors associated with CAM use. Evid Based Complement Altern Med. 2010;7(1):11–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Dello Buono M, Urciuoli O, Marietta P, Padoani W, De Leo D. Alternative medicine in a sample of 655 community-dwelling elderly. J Psychosom Res. 2001;50(3):147–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Green CA, Pope CR. Gender, psychosocial factors and the use of medical services: a longitudinal analysis. Soc Sci Med (1982). 1999;48(10):1363–72.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Matthews S, Manor O, Power C. Social inequalities in health: are there gender differences? Soc Sci Med (1982). 1999;48(1):49–60.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Byrnes JP, Miller DC, Schafer WD. Gender differences in risk taking: a meta-analysis. Psychol Bull. 1999;125(3):367–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Hanssen B, Grimsgaard S, Launso L, Fonnebo V, Falkenberg T, Rasmussen NK. Use of complementary and alternative medicine in the Scandinavian countries. Scand J Prim Health Care. 2005;23(1):57–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Paramore LC. Use of alternative therapies: estimates from the 1994 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation National Access to care survey. J Pain Symptom Manag. 1997;13(2):83–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Druss BG, Rosenheck RA. Association between use of unconventional therapies and conventional medical services. Jama. 1999;282(7):651–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Hitiris T, Posnett J. The determinants and effects of health expenditure in developed countries. J Health Econ. 1992;11(2):173–81.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 


Page 2

Skip to main content

From: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in Europe

MeasureStudy populationOverallPhysicalConsumable
CAM useCAM useCAM use
Total33, 37117.9%10.9%9.3%
Gender
 Male47.3%13.9%9.0%6.4%
 Female52.7%21.5%12.6%11.9%
Age group
 25–44 years37.6%18.5%11.6%9.6%
 45–64 years38.4%18.9%11.9%9.5%
 65+ years24.0%15.3%8.3%8.4%
Educational level
 Primary education32.6%12.2%6.8%6.6%
 Secondary education49.3%19.6%12.1%10.1%
 Tertiary education18.2%23.2%15.1%11.8%
Financial strain
 Living comfortably29.8%20.7%15.2%8.2%
 Coping47.2%17.2%10.0%9.6%
 Difficult & very difficult23.0%15.5%7.5%9.9%
Main activity
 Paid work57.2%19.1%12.3%9.4%
 Unemployed/housework14.3%16.7%9.3%10.1%
 Retired25.1%15.1%8.3%8.3%
 Permanently sick/disabled3.4%21.4%14.9%10.6%
Health care utilization
 No doctor visits17.9%8.8%4.9%4.6%
 Only GP39.9%15.7%9.2%8.0%
 MS/MS & GP42.1%23.7%15.2%12.5%
Unmet medical need
 No unmet need87.5%16.5%10.2%8.5%
 Unmet need12.5%27.3%16.3%14.7%
Opinion of health services
 Average or higher opinion68.8%17.6%11.1%8.8%
 Low opinion31.2%18.4%10.6%10.3%
Self-reported health
 Good health64.6%17.1%11.0%8.3%
 Poor health35.4%19.3%10.9%11.0%
Longstanding health problem
 No longstanding health problem71.7%16.2%9.8%8.4%
 Longstanding health problem28.3%22.1%13.7%11.5%