Background: In Germany, complementary medicine, including anthroposophic medicine, is becoming increasingly popular. As a consequence, there is an increasing need to confirm the benefits of such treatment approaches by scientific studies. Knowledge about patients who choose either conventional or complementary medicine is basic for any controlled study in this field.
Patients and methods: 800 patients from 4 anthroposophic (group A) and 4 matched conventional family practitioners (group S) filled out two questionnaires. Questionnaire 1 included questions on patients' social and health status. Questionnaire 2 was a standardized personality inventory test on beliefs about personal control over health.
Results: Group A had more female patients than group S, but there were no differences in age. Also, the proportion of patients with a university degree was higher in group A. Of group A, only half as many patients as of group S reported to be smokers or overweight. Concerning patients' sporting activities the groups showed no differences. In group S, 52% of patients suffered from a chronic disease, in group A, 59%. Patients of both groups wanted more consultation time, although patients of group A already spent more time with their physician than patients of group S. In group A, twice as many patients as in group S believe that their lifestyle has an impact on their health, but in both groups only 15% behave accordingly. Both groups judge the importance of the doctor equal. More than half of all patients wish they can use both complementary and conventional therapies.
Conclusion: Patients of conventional and anthroposophic physicians are comparable in many aspects. Anthroposophic patients specifically choose their practitioner and treatment and require longer consultation time, although they do not expect better treatment results.