Table 2 CAM recommendation and practice by GPs in Tuscany
Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|
N | % | 95% CI | |
Recommendation | |||
Frequency of CAM recommendation to patients | |||
never | 605 | 42.1 | 40.5–43.6 |
sometimes | 803 | 53.6 | 52.0–55.1 |
often | 68 | 4.3 | 3.7–4.8 |
Type of CAM recommended * + | |||
Acupuncture | 599 | 69.2 | 67.3–71.0 |
Manipulative therapy | 421 | 47.9 | 45.8–49.8 |
Homeopathy | 343 | 38.1 | 36.1–39.9 |
Phytotherapy | 214 | 23.4 | 21.8–25.0 |
Mesotherapy (unconventional medications) | 78 | 9.1 | 7.9–10.2 |
other | 175 | 19.6 | 18.0–21.1 |
Reasons for never recommending CAM to patients ° + | |||
lack of evidence of its effectiveness | 275 | 47.6 | 45.1–50.0 |
not enough knowledge of it | 211 | 33.4 | 31.1–35.6 |
fear it may be dangerous if used as replacement of conventional medicine | 121 | 20.3 | 18.4–22.4 |
believing it is useless | 113 | 19.1 | 17.2–21.1 |
fear of potential side effects | 23 | 3.9 | 3.0–4.9 |
no chance | 15 | 2.4 | 1.7–3.3 |
Practice | |||
Frequency of CAM practice | |||
never | 1231 | 84.8 | 83.6–85.8 |
in the past only | 31 | 2.2 | 1.8–2.8 |
currently | 197 | 12.9 | 11.9–13.9 |
Patterns of practice among current CAM practitioners | |||
occasional | 122 | 62.5 | 58.3–66.4 |
regular, as additional activity | 73 | 36.8 | 32.8–40.9 |
regular, as main activity | 2 | 0.7 | 0.7–0.7 |
Type of CAM practised by current CAM practitioners + | |||
Homeopathy | 91 | 42.7 | 38.8–46.7 |
Phytotherapy | 85 | 41.3 | 37.3–45.3 |
Mesotherapy (with unconventional medications) | 57 | 30.6 | 26.8–34.7 |
Acupuncture | 42 | 23.0 | 19.4–26.8 |
Manipulative therapy | 24 | 13.0 | 10.3–16.3 |
other | 64 | 32.2 | 28.4–36.1 |