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Attitudes towards and personal use of complementary and alternative medicine amongst clinicians working in audiovestibular disciplines

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 July 2016

G Crundwell  and
D M Baguley
G Crundwell*
Affiliation:
Department of Audiology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
D M Baguley
Affiliation:
Department of Audiology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK Department of Audiology, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Ms Gemma Crundwell, Department of Audiology (Box 94), Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK E-mail: gemma.crundwell@addenbrookes.nhs.uk
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Abstract

Objective:

Literature indicates that complementary and alternative medicine is used by patients with auditory and vestibular symptoms. This study sought to determine the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine uptake, and examine attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine in clinicians working with audiovestibular disorder patients.

Method:

The Holistic Complementary and Alternative Medicine Questionnaire and a devised questionnaire about recent and lifetime use of complementary and alternative medicine were used.

Results:

Fifty-four individuals, including audiologists, ENT surgeons, nurses and rehabilitationists, completed the questionnaires (67 per cent response rate). Lifetime prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine uptake was 44 per cent, and 12-month prevalence was 22 per cent. Uptake was more common in females, but there was no significant difference in use when comparing age, seniority or profession. Attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine were mildly adverse, but sizeable standard deviation indicates wide-ranging attitudes.

Conclusion:

Clinicians working with patients with audiovestibular disorders have a range of attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine. Personal uptake of complementary and alternative medicine was lower than that of the general UK population, but remains sizeable.

Keywords

Complementary TherapiesHearing LossTinnitus
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 130 , Issue 8 , August 2016 , pp. 730 - 733
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2016 

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