[Non-conventional medicine in Tuscany: attitudes and use in the population].

OBJECTIVES

With the aim of facilitating complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) regulation by decision-makers in the Tuscan region, objectives of the analysis were: 1) to estimate the frequency and motivations of CAM use (acupuncture, homeopathy, phytotherapy, manipulative therapies) within the Tuscan population; 2) to identify variables associated with CAM use; 3) to investigate public opinion concerning CAM.

DESIGN

We have analysed the regional data collected by the ISTAT through the survey Multiscopo su "Condizioni di salute e ricorso ai servizi sanitari", years 1999-2000.

PARTICIPANTS

The analysis was carried out on 5670 subjects > 20 years resident in the Tuscan region between July 1999 and June 2000.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Usefulness, utilization and benefits concerning CAM.

RESULTS

Forty-five percent of the surveyed population consider useful at least one type of CAM, and 20% had used CAM at least once in the three years prior to the interview. Most frequent users are middle-aged women with higher educational levels, and manipulative therapies and homeopathy are the most used remedies. Disorders that mostly have induced the population to use CAM are pain syndromes.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the Tuscan population has a positive attitude towards CAM use, which is slightly more frequent than the average national use.