Why people use complementary and alternative medicine

A new study finds that the main reasons for using complementary and alternative medicine are a positive attitude towards it and dissatisfaction with conventional medicine.

A newly published systematic review investigates the reasons for using or not using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) amongst general and condition-specific populations, and amongst populations in each region of the globe. It finds that the main reasons for using CAM in all populations were a positive attitude towards CAM, that is firstly having an expectation of the benefits of CAM, secondly, dissatisfaction with conventional medicine and thirdly, the perceived safety of CAM. Other influencing factors varied between regions. Negative attitudes towards CAM and satisfaction with conventional medicine were the main reasons for non-use.

The prevalence of CAM use in general populations worldwide ranges from 9.8% to 76%.

For further information

• Potential factors that influence usage of complementary and alternative medicine worldwide: a systematic review, Tangkiatkumjai et al, BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, November 2020