Are Physicians Aware
of the Risks of Alternative Medicine?

This section is compiled by Frank M. Painter, D.C.
Send all comments or additions to:    Frankp@chiro.org

FROM:   J Community Health 2001 (Jun); 26 (3): 159-174

Daniel D. Silverstein
Beth Israel Medical Center in New York

Allen D. Spiegel
Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health,
State University of New York,
Health Science Center at Brooklyn,
450 Clarkson Avenue, Box 43,
Brooklyn, NY 11203

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Evidence supports the fact that alternative medical therapies play an increasingly prominent role in healthcare. Relevantly, this study posed three questions:

(1)   Do physicians ask their patients about their use of herbs/dietary supplements?

(2)   Do physicians use the available resources to evaluate the possible drug interactions and/or side effects of the dietary supplements? and

(3)   Are physicians aware of the side effects, drug interactions and contraindications of ten commonly used herbs?

A questionnaire was randomly distributed to medical students and faculty of the State University of New York, Health Science Center at Brooklyn. One hundred sixty five surveys were returned out of 193 handed out (85%). Analysis revealed that although many physicians asked their patients about their use of alternative remedies, most do not check the remedies in a reference text. Age and training were negatively correlated in a statistically significant manner with (1) the likelihood of a physician prescribing alternative medicines; (2) checking the side effects and drug interactions of over the counter and prescription medications in a reference text; (3) asking patients specifically about alternative medicines; and (4) checking the side effects and drug interactions of alternative remedies in a reference text. In a question matching ten herbs and side-effects, the highest score was six out of ten correct and the average number correct was 1.32 with a standard deviation of 1.39. Clearly, physicians may be aware of different forms of alternative medicines. However, physicians are still not treating herbs in the same manner as other types of medications. There is no doubt that patient care would be greatly enhanced if physicians educated themselves and stayed in touch with their patients' beliefs and health care behavior.

Keywords: alternative medicine, herbs, patient care, side effects, physician practices

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