Authors

• Aarva, Pauliina (Yhdistävä Lääketiede ry)

Keywords

beliefs, complementary therapies, diseases, health status, lifestyle and health, medical sciences, medical self-treatment, medical treatment methods, naturopathy, well-being (health)

Abstract

The study surveyed Finns' views on complementary and alternative medicine.

At the beginning of the survey, respondents were asked about their experiences of visiting different healthcare professionals by asking whether they had visited one or more healthcare professionals (e.g., doctor, chiropractor, homeopath, massage therapist) during the past 12 months. Following this, the respondents were asked about the number of visits, the main reason for the visit, and the perceived benefits of the visit. The respondents were also asked whether a doctor had recommended any complementary or alternative medicine to them in the past 12 months. Next, the respondents' use of natural remedies was surveyed by asking what natural remedies they had used or what products their doctor had recommended for use during the past 12 months. The respondents were also asked whether they had used any self-help practices (e.g., meditation/mindfulness, yoga, sauna, art) in the past 12 months. The respondents were then asked about the frequency of using self-help practices, the most important reason for use, and the perceived benefits of use.

The respondents were then asked more generally about the benefits or harms they had experienced from using complementary and alternative medicine. In addition, the survey explored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the use of complementary and alternative medicine, natural remedies, and self-help practices. After this, the respondents were presented with various statements about health and the disease treatment, which they were asked to evaluate. They were also asked to assess their own health status. Additionally, the survey asked whether the respondents intended to use complementary medicine in the future and whether their use of complementary medicine had previously affected or delayed their access to medical care. At the end of the survey, the respondents were asked to evaluate how important different values are to them (e.g., power, pleasure, traditions, security).

The background variables in the data include the respondent's occupational status, stage of life, age group, household size, household income, level of education, position on the right-left axis, marital status, gender, native language, and several different regional variables.