Authors

• University of Tampere
• Taloustutkimus

Keywords

acupuncture, chiropractic, complementary therapies, herbal medicine, homeopathy, medical sciences, medical treatment methods, naturopathy

Abstract

The study examined Finnish views of alternative treatment methods and complementary therapy.

First, the respondents were presented with a variety of treatment methods, and they were asked whether they believed that they could be used to treat illnesses or conditions (e.g. surgical operations, over-the-counter drugs, herbal medicines, acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, homeopathy, chiropractic, hypnosis, diet, prayer). The respondents were also asked which of the treatments they or members of their family had personally used or tried as well as to what extent they had proven helpful.

Next, the respondents were presented with the following statements with regard to a set of alternative treatments: whether the treatment should be generally accepted as a method of treatment, whether it should be regulated by legislation, whether the provider of the treatment should be liable for any damage caused, and whether providing the treatment to children or the seriously ill should be restricted by law. Finally, the respondents were asked which complementary or alternative treatments they had used in the previous 12 months.

Background variables included, among others, gender, age, household composition, income group, economic activity and occupational status, educational level, region of residence, number of inhabitants in municipality of residence, number of persons living in the household, and number and ages of children living in the household.