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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess US primary care physicians' levels of knowledge
of and attitudes towards homoeopathy, as well as their practice and referral patterns,
and desire for training in this field. Previous studies indicate low practice and
referral rates, but high interest in training has been suggested by an earlier regional
study. A structured, self-administered questionnaire was mailed to a hierarchical,
stratified, random sample of physicians drawn from the American Medical Association
membership of primary care specialists. Results of this study show a high degree of
interest in training (49%) in homoeopathy despite current low practice (5.9%) and
referral rates (13.8%). In addition, a total of one third of the physicians said they
either would use or have used homoeopathy in their own practices. A shortfall exists
between the knowledge and desire for knowledge about homoeopathy among primary care
physicians and the availability or amount of information and training accessible in
the United States.
Keywords
Complementary/alternative medicine - Homoeopathy - Primary care physicians - Knowledge
- Attitude - Usage - Referrals
