Table 3

Reasons for using CAM in 1997–8 compared to 2005

% (N) Agree

I use complementary medicine/therapy because....

1997–8

N = 141

2005

N = 185

Standard recoding

Conservative recoding

1. Conventional medicine was not effective for my health problem.

41.8 (59)

67.2 (123)*

49.2 (90)

2. I believe that complementary/alternative medicine allows me to take a more active role in maintaining my health.

51.8 (73)

91.8 (168)*

76.5 (140)*

3. The conventional medicine treatment I received had unpleasant side effects.

9.2 (13)

55.7 (102)*

37.7 (69)*

4. I value the emphasis that complementary/alternative medicine places on treating the whole person.

36.9 (52)

92.4 (170)*

78.3 (144)*

5. I had difficulty communicating with my medical doctor (for example, he/she didn't understand my problem, didn't listen, etc.).

7.1 (10)

40.1 (73)*

22.0 (40)*

6. I am desperate to solve my health problem and I will try anything.

9.9 (14)

63.9 (115)*

45.1 (83)*

* Fisher Exact test of the difference between 1997–8 and 2005 score was significant at p < .0001.

Sirois BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2008 8:16   doi:10.1186/1472-6882-8-16