Table 6

Use of Other Treatment and Health Care Services during Study (24 Months)

Baseline

3 Months

12 Months

24 Months

Patients Using Conventional Drugs (% & N) †*

Any Drug

54.5% (73)

31.3% (42)

34.3% (46)

33.6% (45)

ATC-Class J-Systemic Anti-Infectives

6.0% (8)

1.5% (2)

0.7% (1)

0.7% (1)

ATC-Class R-Respiratory system

37.3% (50)

18.7% (25)

10.4% (14)

9.7% (13)

Antibiotics

4.5% (6)

0.7% (1)

0.7% (1)

0% (0)

Corticosteroids

1.5% (2)

0.0% (0)

0.7% (1)

0% (0)

Patients Using Nonpharmaceutical Treatments (% & N) †*

Any Therapy

71.6% (96)

20.9% (28)

35.1% (47)

43.3% (58)

Surgery

32.1% (43)

3.0% (4)

9.0% (12)

14.2% (19)

Non-Surgical

64.2% (86)

19.4% (26)

31.3% (42)

39.6% (53)

Acupuncture

25.4% (34)

3.0% (4)

6.7% (9)

9.0% (12)

Patients Consulting Other Health Care (% & N) †*

Any Physician

98.5% (132)

41.0% (55)

65.7% (88)

77.6% (104)

General Practitioner

71.6% (96)

11.9% (16)

23.9% (32)

36.6% (49)

ENT-specialist

67.9% (91)

10.4% (14)

18.7% (25)

25.4% (34)

Allergy specialist

0.7% (1)

0.0% (0)

0.0% (0)

0.7% (1)

Pulmonary specialist

7.5% (10)

2.2% (3)

3.7% (5)

5.2% (7)

Surgery

5.2% (7)

0.7% (1)

3.0% (4)

5.2% (7)

Hospital

25.4% (34)

2.2% (3)

9.7% (13)

12.7% (17)

Any CAM Treatment

25.4% (34)

0.7% (1)

5.2% (7)

10.4% (14)

Other Homeopath

20.9% (28)

0.7% (1)

2.2% (3)

5.2% (7)

Non-medical CAM Practitioner

3.7% (5)

0.0% (0)

2.2% (3)

3.0% (4)

Months 1–3

Months 4–12

Months 12–24

Referrals By Study Homeopath (Patients, % & N) ‡

Any Physician *

--

0.0% (0)

0.7% (1)

3.0% (4)

Hospital, Surgery

--

0.0% (0)

0.7% (1)

0.7% (1)

Multiple answers possible. ^† Patients' answers, ^‡ physicians' answers. * Including all diagnoses/complaints and routine checks (e.g., dentist, gynaecologist). ATC = Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System.

Witt et al. BMC Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders 2009 9:7   doi:10.1186/1472-6815-9-7