Introduction
Several studies indicate that increasing proportions of western populations have used some kind of complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) recently, even if reported percentages vary as much as from 2.6% to 74.8%.
Common health issues for CAM utilization are back pain, depression, insomnia or trouble sleeping, severe headache
and migraine, stomach or intestinal illness, and some of the most frequently reported treatments are homeopathy, acupuncture, chiropractic manipulation, herbal medicine, and massage.In general, women, middle aged people and those with higher education are most frequent users, and there are positive correlations between income and use of
CAM.
A number of recent studies on specific groups, such as women, children, cancer patients, and infectious patients, indicate extensive use of CAM, not necessarily to cure specific conditions but to but improve quality of live, increase energy levels, and boost immune systems.
Use of CAM can also serve as routines and rituals to establish certainty and control among critically ill patients.
To explain this development, we probably need to take several factors into account.One theme of explanations is related to influences of postmodern values, growth of individualism, and increased consumerism in the area of health.It has been proposed that it is increasingly common to question traditional authorities, such as doctors and researchers, and to have confidence in individual, subjective, and bodily experiences, in postmodern societies.
Many CAM users highlight their own role and self-authority in taking care of health and seeking different kind of treatments. As a result, what feels right or works for me may be considered at least as important as expertise knowledge.To some extent this indicates a greater willingness to take risks among CAM users, compared to non-users, although, their belief in self authority does not seem to hinder CAM users from seeking expert advice.
Another theme of explanations is related to individual experiences of conventional health care. Many CAM users have not been helped by conventional treatments, are concerned about adverse side effects, and/or is not satisfied with doctor/patient communication.
Previous research also shows that relatively few people chose CAM as a first-line or exclusive treatment. Instead they use CAM along with conventional health care.
However, more detailed motives to use CAM, for specific needs or in specific situations, are relatively poorly understood.Vincent and Furnham suggested it could be relevant to separate the reasons for beginning such treatments from the reasons of continuing them.
Even if treatments start off in frustration and disappointment with conventional medicine, other factors may explain why people continue.
For example, a study by Sirois and Gick found that established CAM users had significantly more health issues,such as chronic pain,than newer and more infrequent users. There are also studies suggesting more complex pattern of motives and background variables,depending on what CAM treatments we are looking at.
The reasons to use acupuncture or chiropractic are not necessarily the same as for using Reiki healing. Or as Kelner and Wellman concluded: An individual may see a physician for heart problems, a chiropractor for headaches, and a naturopath for fatigue.This article examines individual experiences of choosing and using CAM. What are the motives for choosing treatments outside conven-tional medicine and/or public health care? How are these choices carried out in practice? What are the experiences of using CAM like in comparison with conventional medical treatments? And how does use
develop over time?