RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Characteristics of visits to licensed acupuncturists, chiropractors, massage therapists, and naturopathic physicians.
JF The Journal of the American Board of Family
                Practice
JO J Am Board Fam Med
FD American Board of Family Medicine
SP 463
OP 472
VO 15
IS 6
A1 Cherkin, Daniel C
A1 Deyo, Richard A
A1 Sherman, Karen J
A1 Hart, L Gary
A1 Street, Janet H
A1 Hrbek, Andrea
A1 Davis, Roger B
A1 Cramer, Elaine
A1 Milliman, Bruce
A1 Booker, Jennifer
A1 Mootz, Robert
A1 Barassi, James
A1 Kahn, Janet R
A1 Kaptchuk, Ted J
A1 Eisenberg, David M
YR 2002
UL http://www.jabfm.org/content/15/6/463.abstract
AB BACKGROUND Despite growing popularity of complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies, little is known about the patients seen by CAM practitioners. Our objective was to describe the patients and problems seen by CAM practitioners.METHODS We collected data on 20 consecutive visits to randomly sampled licensed acupuncturists, chiropractors, massage therapists, and naturopathic physicians practicing in Arizona, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Washington. Data were collected on patient demographics, smoking status, referral source, reasons for visit, concurrent medical care, payment source, and visit duration. Comparative data for conventional physicians were drawn from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.RESULTS In each profession, at least 99 practitioners collected data on more than 1,800 visits. More than 80% of visits to CAM providers were by young and middle-aged adults, and roughly two thirds were by women. Children comprised 10% of visits to naturopathic physicians but only 1% to 4% of all visits to other CAM providers. At least two thirds of visits resulted from self-referrals, and only 4% to 12% of visits were from conventional physician referrals. Chiropractors and massage therapists primarily saw musculoskeletal problems, while acupuncturists and naturopathic physicians saw a broader range of conditions. Visits to acupuncturists and massage therapists lasted about 60 minutes compared with 40 minutes for naturopathic physicians and less than 20 minutes for chiropractors. Most visits to chiropractors and naturopathic physicians, but less than one third of visits to acupuncturists and massage therapists, were covered by insurance.CONCLUSIONS This information will help inform discussions of the roles CAM practitioners will play in the health care system of the future.