CAM use
Whilst 19.6% of respondents had never tried a CAM, 80.4% had tried at least one, and almost half (46.7%) had tried between two and five CAM. A significant minority – 16.4% – had tried six or more different therapies.
Two thirds of respondents currently use one or more CAM. A huge range of CAM are used, the most popular being vitamins, supplements and other dietary approaches (particularly the ‘Best Bet’ diet), LDN, acupuncture, massage and yoga.
“I think there is a place for ALL treatments and professionals should recognise them.”
Health professionals and CAM
More than half of respondents (58.3%) had not consulted an MS health professional before starting a CAM. When asked the reasons for not consulting a health professional, 20.3% were concerned that their healthcare professional might have a negative opinion about the therapy and 15.3% did not want to be discouraged, while 71.6% simply thought it was unnecessary or irrelevant.
Effective or not?
76.5% of respondents felt that CAMs had had a positive effect on their health whilst 5.2% had felt they’d had a negative effect. 18.3% noticed no difference.
“Some CAM for MS are promoted
unethically using pseudo scientific ‘facts’.”
More half have no concerns about using CAM, but of those that do, the most common concern was about costs (37.6%), with many feeling aggrieved that national health services or insurance schemes will pay for costly drug treatments but not for CAM, which many feel to be more beneficial to their overall health and well-being. 11% were concerned about possible interactions of CAM with their MS medication, and 10% were concerned about reactions of their MS health professional.
|
