Skip to main content

Main menu

  • HOME
  • ARTICLES
    • Current Issue
    • Ahead of Print
    • Archives
    • Abstracts In Press
    • Special Issue Archive
    • Subject Collections
  • INFO FOR
    • Authors
    • Reviewers
    • Call For Papers
    • Subscribers
    • Advertisers
  • SUBMIT
    • Manuscript
    • Peer Review
  • ABOUT
    • The JABFM
    • The Editing Fellowship
    • Editorial Board
    • Indexing
    • Editors' Blog
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • Other Publications
    • abfm

User menu

Search

  • Advanced search
American Board of Family Medicine
  • Other Publications
    • abfm
American Board of Family Medicine

American Board of Family Medicine

Advanced Search

  • HOME
  • ARTICLES
    • Current Issue
    • Ahead of Print
    • Archives
    • Abstracts In Press
    • Special Issue Archive
    • Subject Collections
  • INFO FOR
    • Authors
    • Reviewers
    • Call For Papers
    • Subscribers
    • Advertisers
  • SUBMIT
    • Manuscript
    • Peer Review
  • ABOUT
    • The JABFM
    • The Editing Fellowship
    • Editorial Board
    • Indexing
    • Editors' Blog
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • JABFM on Bluesky
  • JABFM On Facebook
  • JABFM On Twitter
  • JABFM On YouTube
Research ArticleOriginal Article

Primary Care Physicians and Complementary-Alternative Medicine: Training, Attitudes, and Practice Patterns

Brian M. Berman, Betsy B. Singh, Susan M. Hartnoll, B. Krishna Singh and D. Reilly
The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice July 1998, 11 (4) 272-281; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.11.4.272
Brian M. Berman
From the Division of Complementary Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, University of Maryland at Baltimore (BMB, BBS); the Behavioral Research Group (SMH) and the Research and Statistical Consultant Group (BKS), Baltimore; and the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital (DR), Scotland. Address reprint requests to Brian M. Berman, MD, Division of Complementary Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, University of Maryland at Baltimore, Kernan Hospital Mansion, 2200 Kernan Ave, Baltimore, MD 21207
MD
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Betsy B. Singh
From the Division of Complementary Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, University of Maryland at Baltimore (BMB, BBS); the Behavioral Research Group (SMH) and the Research and Statistical Consultant Group (BKS), Baltimore; and the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital (DR), Scotland. Address reprint requests to Brian M. Berman, MD, Division of Complementary Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, University of Maryland at Baltimore, Kernan Hospital Mansion, 2200 Kernan Ave, Baltimore, MD 21207
PhD
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Susan M. Hartnoll
From the Division of Complementary Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, University of Maryland at Baltimore (BMB, BBS); the Behavioral Research Group (SMH) and the Research and Statistical Consultant Group (BKS), Baltimore; and the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital (DR), Scotland. Address reprint requests to Brian M. Berman, MD, Division of Complementary Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, University of Maryland at Baltimore, Kernan Hospital Mansion, 2200 Kernan Ave, Baltimore, MD 21207
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
B. Krishna Singh
From the Division of Complementary Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, University of Maryland at Baltimore (BMB, BBS); the Behavioral Research Group (SMH) and the Research and Statistical Consultant Group (BKS), Baltimore; and the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital (DR), Scotland. Address reprint requests to Brian M. Berman, MD, Division of Complementary Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, University of Maryland at Baltimore, Kernan Hospital Mansion, 2200 Kernan Ave, Baltimore, MD 21207
MB, PhD
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
D. Reilly
From the Division of Complementary Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, University of Maryland at Baltimore (BMB, BBS); the Behavioral Research Group (SMH) and the Research and Statistical Consultant Group (BKS), Baltimore; and the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital (DR), Scotland. Address reprint requests to Brian M. Berman, MD, Division of Complementary Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, University of Maryland at Baltimore, Kernan Hospital Mansion, 2200 Kernan Ave, Baltimore, MD 21207
MB, FRCP, MRCGP
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
Loading

Abstract

Background: Physician interest in complementary medicine is widely documented in many Western countries. The extent of level of training, attitudes toward legitimacy, and use of complementary therapies by US primary care physicians has not been extensively surveyed. We conducted a national mail survey of primary care physicians to explore these issues.

Methods: Primary care specialties represented were family and general practice, internal medicine, and pediatrics. A total of 783 physicians responded to the survey. For the multivariate analysis, sample weights were assigned based on specialty. Assessments were done for training, attitudes, and usage for complementary medicine. Additional data collected included years in practice, specialty, and type of medical degree.

Results: Biofeedback and relaxation, counseling and psychotherapy, behavioral medicine, and diet and exercise were the therapies in which physicians most frequently indicated training, regarded as legitimate medical practice, and have used or would use in practice. Traditional Oriental medicine, Native American medicine, and electromagnetic applications were least accepted and used by physicians.

Conclusions: Many psychobehavioral and lifestyle therapies appear to have become accepted as part of mainstream medicine, with physicians in this study having training in and using them. Such therapies as chiropractic and acupuncture appear to be gaining in acceptance despite low training levels among physicians. Those in practice more than 22 years had the least positive attitudes toward and use of complementary therapies. Osteopathic physicians were more open than medical physicians to therapies that required administering medication or a procedural technique. In the multivariate analysis, attitude and training were the best predictors of use.

PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

The Journal of the American Board of Family     Practice: 11 (4)
The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice
Vol. 11, Issue 4
1 Jul 1998
  • Table of Contents
  • Table of Contents (PDF)
  • Index by author
  • Front Matter (PDF)
  • Back Matter (PDF)
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on American Board of Family Medicine.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Primary Care Physicians and Complementary-Alternative Medicine: Training, Attitudes, and Practice Patterns
(Your Name) has sent you a message from American Board of Family Medicine
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the American Board of Family Medicine web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
3 + 14 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.
Citation Tools
Primary Care Physicians and Complementary-Alternative Medicine: Training, Attitudes, and Practice Patterns
Brian M. Berman, Betsy B. Singh, Susan M. Hartnoll, B. Krishna Singh, D. Reilly
The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice Jul 1998, 11 (4) 272-281; DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.11.4.272

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Share
Primary Care Physicians and Complementary-Alternative Medicine: Training, Attitudes, and Practice Patterns
Brian M. Berman, Betsy B. Singh, Susan M. Hartnoll, B. Krishna Singh, D. Reilly
The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice Jul 1998, 11 (4) 272-281; DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.11.4.272
Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Jump to section

  • Article
  • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF

Related Articles

  • No related articles found.
  • PubMed
  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • Pneumothorax after acupuncture
  • Regional Use of Complementary and Alternative Therapies by Critical Care Nurses
  • Complementary medicine and medical education
  • Current topic: Complementary and alternative medicine for children: does it work?
  • Google Scholar

More in this TOC Section

  • Screening for Dementia: Family Caregiver Questionnaires Reliably Predict Dementia
  • Help-Seeking for Insomnia among Adult Patients in Primary Care
  • How Much Time Do Patients with Diabetes Spend on Self-Care?
Show more Original Articles

Similar Articles

Navigate

  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues

Authors & Reviewers

  • Info For Authors
  • Info For Reviewers
  • Submit A Manuscript/Review

Other Services

  • Get Email Alerts
  • Classifieds
  • Reprints and Permissions

Other Resources

  • Forms
  • Contact Us
  • ABFM News

© 2025 American Board of Family Medicine

Powered by HighWire