RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Characteristics of 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 378
OP 390
VO 15
IS 5
A1 Daniel C Cherkin
A1 Richard A Deyo
A1 Karen J Sherman
A1 L Gary Hart
A1 Janet H Street
A1 Andrea Hrbek
A1 Elaine Cramer
A1 Bruce Milliman
A1 Jennifer Booker
A1 Robert Mootz
A1 James Barassi
A1 Janet R Kahn
A1 Ted J Kaptchuk
A1 David M Eisenberg
YR 2002
UL http://www.jabfm.org/content/15/5/378.abstract
AB BACKGROUND Despite the growing popularity of complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies, little is known about the professionals who provide them. Our objective was to describe the characteristics of the four largest groups of licensed CAM providers in the United States and to compare them with the characteristics of conventional physicians.METHODS Random statewide samples of licensed acupuncturists, chiropractors, massage therapists, and naturopathic physicians living in Arizona, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Washington were interviewed by telephone. Sociodemographic, training, and practice characteristics of CAM providers were elicited and compared with data on conventional physicians published by the American Medical Association.RESULTS More than 160 providers in each profession were interviewed. Participation rates ranged between 78% and 94% except for Arizona chiropractors (61%). The proportion of female respondents was highest for massage therapy (85%) and acupuncture and naturopathy (almost 60%) and was lowest for chiropractic (about 25%) and conventional medicine (23%). Except for acupuncturists, only 5% of CAM providers were nonwhite. CAM providers were more likely than conventional physicians to practice solo (51%-74% vs 26%, respectively), and less than 10% practiced with medical physicians. Massage therapists saw the fewest patients per week (about 14), and chiropractors and conventional physicians the most (about 100). Chiropractors and conventional physicians saw about 3 patients per hour compared with roughly 1 patient per hour for the other CAM professions. Interstate differences were small.CONCLUSIONS This characterization of CAM providers will help inform decisions about the future role of CAM providers in the health care system.