• Ann Emerg Med · Mar 2000

    Use of alternative therapies among emergency department patients.

    • J Gulla and A J Singer.
    • Department of Emergency Medicine, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
    • Ann Emerg Med. 2000 Mar 1;35(3):226-8.

    Study ObjectiveTo assess emergency department patients' use of alternative therapies.MethodsThis study used a cross-sectional observational survey of a convenience sample of ED patients. A trained research assistant administered a written questionnaire asking patients about alternative therapies.ResultsOf the 139 patients surveyed, 78 (56%) had tried alternative therapies in the past, 68 (87%) of whom believed that they were effective. The most frequently tried alternative therapies were massage therapy (31%), chiropractic (30%), herbs (24%), meditation (19%), and acupuncture (15%). Most patients (70%) who tried alternative therapies did not inform their physicians of such practice.ConclusionMost ED patients in our sample had tried alternative therapies and among these patients, most did not inform their physicians. Herbal therapy in particular had been tried by about 1 in 4 patients. Emergency physicians should routinely question their patients regarding the use of alternative therapies, particularly herbal preparations, which may cause adverse effects.

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