Results. In analysing experiences of choosing and using CAM four
main themes were identified: frustration and critique, values and ideology,
individual responsibility, and combining treatments. In general,
the participants were highly reflexive on issues concerning their
health. They highlighted their own role and responsibility, combined a
variety of treatments, and continuously dealt with questions on risks,
even if they had relatively different approaches to if and when to use
CAM. The results also show that motives may change over time. Even
if initial choices were closely related to frustration and critique of conventional
treatments (for example, by perceiving conventional health
care as limited, not receiving proper diagnoses, or being critical to
conventional drugs) was long-term use motivated by ideological characteristics
of CAM (such as holistic and individualized treatments, and
extensive interaction with practitioners).