Abstract
Background:
Interest in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasing worldwide, although relatively little is known of physician use of CAM, and there are no quantitative reports of CAM use by Russian physicians.
Objective:
The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of CAM therapies among practicing physicians and determine predictors of CAM usage.
Design:
This was a convenience sample prevalence survey.
Setting:
The study involved 3 urban academic hospitals in St. Petersburg, in Russia.
Subjects:
Participants included 192 physicians practicing at the three study hospitals.
Measurements:
The study determined the number (from a list of 32) of CAM therapies that physicians used on themselves, used on their patients, or referred their patients to receive.
Results:
One hundred and seventy-seven (177; 92%) of the surveyed physicians responded. One hundred percent (100%) of the respondents had practiced CAM or referred patients for at least two CAM therapies. One hundred and seventy-five (175; 99%) had themselves practiced at least two therapies. On average, each physician had practiced or referred patients for 12.7 (95% confidence interval, 11.9–13.6) therapies. On multivariate analysis, knowledge of a foreign language, surgical specialty, and female gender were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with increased CAM usage, while critical care specialty and completion of only an internship were associated with lower rates of CAM practice.
Conclusions:
Physician use of CAM in Russia appears very high. The high prevalence of CAM may complicate adoption of Western evidence-based practices. Predictors and effects of CAM usage in Russian society warrant further study.
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