PROFILE OF PATIENTS USING ALTERNATIVE/COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES BY INDIVIDUALS FROM SUPPLEMENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM

Abstract

Survey study quantitative to describe the profile of use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). Not probabilistic convenience sample consisted of 237 patients of a midsize private institution of São Paulo, Brazil. The majority of the sample consisted of adults (57%) and most women in this sample (61%). The use of some modality of CAM was reported by 83% of respondents, acupuncture predominantly. The previous positive experience and also because it is a non-drug treatment were the most cited reasons for using the CAM. Specific guidance of a health professional about CAM was subindicated. The perspective related of new forms of treatment, and the observations of satisfactory results were important reasons for adherence to this modality of treatment. The resolutions of clinical complaints (healing), as well as the high cost were appointed by the sample studied as major reasons for not continuing utilization of complementary therapies.