Exclusive use of alternative medicine as a positive choice: a qualitative study of treatment assumptions among people with multiple sclerosis in denmark
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Exclusive use of alternative medicine as a positive choice : a qualitative study of treatment assumptions among people with multiple sclerosis in denmark. / Skovgaard, Lasse; Pedersen, Inge Kryger; Verhoef, Marja.
In: International Journal of M S Care, Vol. 16, No. 3, 2014, p. 124-31.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Exclusive use of alternative medicine as a positive choice
T2 - a qualitative study of treatment assumptions among people with multiple sclerosis in denmark
AU - Skovgaard, Lasse
AU - Pedersen, Inge Kryger
AU - Verhoef, Marja
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - BACKGROUND: A survey of members of the Danish MS Society revealed that a minority of MS patients choose to forgo all types of conventional treatment and use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) exclusively. A qualitative follow-up study was performed to elucidate the choice of exclusive CAM use by exploring treatment assumptions among a group of exclusive CAM users.METHODS: The study was based on a phenomenological approach. Semistructured in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 17 participants, using program theory as an analytical tool, and emerging themes were extracted from the data through meaning condensation.RESULTS: Four themes characterized the participants' treatment assumptions: 1) conventional medicine contains chemical substances that affect the body in negative ways; 2) CAM treatments can strengthen the organism and make it more capable of resisting the impact of MS; 3) the patient's active participation is an important component of the healing process; 4) bodily sensations can be used to guide treatment selection.CONCLUSIONS: Exclusive use of CAM by MS patients may reflect embracing CAM rather than a rejection of conventional medicine. Health-care practitioners, patient organizations, and health authorities within the MS field should be aware of possible changes in patients' attitudes toward both CAM and conventional treatment interventions.
AB - BACKGROUND: A survey of members of the Danish MS Society revealed that a minority of MS patients choose to forgo all types of conventional treatment and use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) exclusively. A qualitative follow-up study was performed to elucidate the choice of exclusive CAM use by exploring treatment assumptions among a group of exclusive CAM users.METHODS: The study was based on a phenomenological approach. Semistructured in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 17 participants, using program theory as an analytical tool, and emerging themes were extracted from the data through meaning condensation.RESULTS: Four themes characterized the participants' treatment assumptions: 1) conventional medicine contains chemical substances that affect the body in negative ways; 2) CAM treatments can strengthen the organism and make it more capable of resisting the impact of MS; 3) the patient's active participation is an important component of the healing process; 4) bodily sensations can be used to guide treatment selection.CONCLUSIONS: Exclusive use of CAM by MS patients may reflect embracing CAM rather than a rejection of conventional medicine. Health-care practitioners, patient organizations, and health authorities within the MS field should be aware of possible changes in patients' attitudes toward both CAM and conventional treatment interventions.
U2 - 10.7224/1537-2073.2013-010
DO - 10.7224/1537-2073.2013-010
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 25337054
VL - 16
SP - 124
EP - 131
JO - International Journal of MS Care
JF - International Journal of MS Care
SN - 1537-2073
IS - 3
ER -
ID: 126970753