Complementary medicine (CM) is popular in
Switzerland. Several CM methods (traditional Chinese
medicine/acupuncture, homeopathy, anthroposophic
medicine, neural therapy, and herbal medicine) are
currently covered by the mandatory basic health
insurance when performed by a certified physician.
Treatments by non-medical therapists are partially
covered by a supplemental and optional health
insurance.
In a new study researchers investigated the
frequency of CM use including the evolvement over
time, the most popular methods, and the user
profile.
Data of the Swiss Health Surveys 2007 and 2012 were
used. In 2007 and 2012, a population of 14,432 and
18,357, respectively, aged 15 years or older
answered the written questionnaire. A set of
questions queried about the frequency of use of
various CM methods within the last 12 months before
the survey. Proportions of usage and 95% confidence
intervals were calculated for these methods and CM
in general. Users and non-users of CM were compared
using logistic regression models.
The most popular methods in 2012 were homeopathy,
naturopathy, osteopathy, herbal medicine, and
acupuncture.
The average number of treatments within the 12
months preceding the survey ranged from 3 for
homeopathy to 6 for acupuncture. 25.0% of the
population at the age of 15 and older had used at
least one CM method in the previous 12 months.
People with a chronic illness or a poor
self-perceived health status were more likely to use
CM.
Similar to other countries, women, people of middle
age, and those with higher education were more
likely to use CM. 59.9% of the adult population had
a supplemental health insurance that partly covered
CM treatments.
Usage of CM in Switzerland remained unchanged
between 2007 and 2012. The user profile in
Switzerland was similar to other countries, such as
Germany, United Kingdom, United States or Australia.
For more information
Klein SD, Torchetti L, Frei-Erb M, Wolf U (2015)
Usage of Complementary Medicine in Switzerland:
Results of the Swiss Health Survey 2012 and
Development Since 2007.
PLoS ONE 10(10): e0141985.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0141985
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