Intentions and willingness to use complementary and alternative medicines: What potential patients believe about CAMs

Abstract This paper explores the intentions and willingness of a sample of Australian consumers ( N = 356) to use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Participants considered using CAMs at least once in the next 2 months and rated the likelihood of certain consequences of CAM use, whether i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Complementary therapies in clinical practice 2009-08, Vol.15 (3), p.136-140
Main Authors: O'Connor, Erin L, White, Katherine M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Alternative medicine
Alternative therapies
Attitude to Health
Australia
Beliefs
CAMs
Complementary Therapies - psychology
Consumers
Female
Health
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Internal Medicine
Male
Medical Education
Middle Aged
Nursing
Patient beliefs
Pilot Projects
Surveys and Questionnaires
Theory of Planned Behavior
Willingness
Young Adult
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Summary:Abstract This paper explores the intentions and willingness of a sample of Australian consumers ( N = 356) to use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Participants considered using CAMs at least once in the next 2 months and rated the likelihood of certain consequences of CAM use, whether important others would approve, and if barriers would prevent them from using CAMs. People intending to use CAMs (high intenders) were more likely than those low on intention (low intenders) to endorse positive outcomes of CAM use and believe that important others would support their CAM use. High intenders were less likely than low intenders to believe that barriers would prevent use. Low intenders ( n = 200) were also asked to consider their response to a free CAM trial. Those willing to accept a trial were more likely than those unwilling to believe that CAMs could improve health and less likely to believe that laziness would prevent use. These results identify important beliefs which may influence people's decisions to use CAMs.
ISSN:1744-3881
1873-6947
DOI:10.1016/j.ctcp.2009.03.003