Why do people use different forms of complementary medicine? Multivariate associations between treatment and illness beliefs and complementary medicine use

Abstract

This study investigated associations between complementary medicine use and treatment and illness beliefs. Previously validated questionnaire measures of treatment beliefs, illness beliefs, and complementary medicine use were presented and advertised online. Completed questionnaires were received from 247 participants. Logistic regression analysis showed that demographic characteristics, treatment beliefs, and illness beliefs accounted for approximately 36% of the variance in complementary medicine use. Separate analyses were conducted to predict use of different types of complementary medicine. The strength of associations between beliefs and complementary medicine use was related to the type of complementary medicine used. The results suggest that people use complementary medicine because they are attracted to it rather than because they are disillusioned with orthodox medicine, and that both treatment and illness beliefs have an important role in explaining why people use complementary medicine.

Keywords:

• Complementary medicine
• CAM
• treatment beliefs
• illness beliefs
• questionnaire

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Jin Zhang for her technical assistance and the Digital Wellbeing team at Boots plc for their help in advertising the study.

Financial Support: F.L.B. was supported by an ESRC CASE Studentship in collaboration with Boots plc. Dr G.T.L's post is funded by a grant from the Maurice Laing Foundation, who at the time of this research was a consultant to Boots plc.