A Steinsbekk1, R Lüdtke. 1. Department of Public Health and General Practice, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway. aslak.steinsbekk@ntnu.no
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the patient reported effects of homeopathic care 6 months after first consultations. METHODS: Prospective uncontrolled observational multicentre outcome study. All patients visiting 80 homeopaths all over Norway for the first time in eight different time periods from 1996 to 1998 were approached. Patients wrote down their main complaint and scored its impact on daily living on a 100 mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at the first consultation. Six months later they were asked to score again. The homeopaths recorded treatments given for up to two follow-up consultations. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Predefined as a reduction of at least 10 mm in the VAS score between the first consultation and follow-up. RESULT: Patients 1097 were recruited, 654 completed the follow-up questionnaire. The main complaint improved by at least 10mm on the VAS for 71% (95% confidence interval 67-74%) of patients. The average reduction was 32mm (95% CI 30-35 mm). Fifty-one per cent (95% CI 48-55%) of the patients had an improvement in their general well being of more than 10 mm. The mean reduction in the whole group was 14mm (95% CI 12-16 mm). The proportion of patients using conventional medication reduced from 39% to 16%. Regression analysis showed that lower age and higher baseline score were predictors of better outcome. CONCLUSION: In this study, seven out of ten patients visiting a Norwegian homeopath reported a meaningful improvement in their main complaint 6 months after the initial consultation.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the patient reported effects of homeopathic care 6 months after first consultations. METHODS: Prospective uncontrolled observational multicentre outcome study. All patients visiting 80 homeopaths all over Norway for the first time in eight different time periods from 1996 to 1998 were approached. Patients wrote down their main complaint and scored its impact on daily living on a 100 mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at the first consultation. Six months later they were asked to score again. The homeopaths recorded treatments given for up to two follow-up consultations. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Predefined as a reduction of at least 10 mm in the VAS score between the first consultation and follow-up. RESULT: Patients 1097 were recruited, 654 completed the follow-up questionnaire. The main complaint improved by at least 10mm on the VAS for 71% (95% confidence interval 67-74%) of patients. The average reduction was 32mm (95% CI 30-35 mm). Fifty-one per cent (95% CI 48-55%) of the patients had an improvement in their general well being of more than 10 mm. The mean reduction in the whole group was 14mm (95% CI 12-16 mm). The proportion of patients using conventional medication reduced from 39% to 16%. Regression analysis showed that lower age and higher baseline score were predictors of better outcome. CONCLUSION: In this study, seven out of ten patients visiting a Norwegian homeopath reported a meaningful improvement in their main complaint 6 months after the initial consultation.
Authors: Vinjar Fønnebø; Sameline Grimsgaard; Harald Walach; Cheryl Ritenbaugh; Arne Johan Norheim; Hugh MacPherson; George Lewith; Laila Launsø; Mary Koithan; Torkel Falkenberg; Heather Boon; Mikel Aickin Journal: BMC Med Res Methodol Date: 2007-02-11 Impact factor: 4.615
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Authors: Cristina Jácome; Ana Margarida Pereira; Rute Almeida; Manuel Ferreira-Magalhaes; Mariana Couto; Luís Araujo; Mariana Pereira; Magna Alves Correia; Cláudia Chaves Loureiro; Maria Joana Catarata; Lília Maia Santos; João Pereira; Bárbara Ramos; Cristina Lopes; Ana Mendes; José Carlos Cidrais Rodrigues; Georgeta Oliveira; Ana Paula Aguiar; Ivete Afonso; Joana Carvalho; Ana Arrobas; José Coutinho Costa; Joana Dias; Ana Todo Bom; João Azevedo; Carmelita Ribeiro; Marta Alves; Paula Leiria Pinto; Nuno Neuparth; Ana Palhinha; João Gaspar Marques; Nicole Pinto; Pedro Martins; Filipa Todo Bom; Maria Alvarenga Santos; Alberto Gomes Costa; Armandina Silva Neto; Marta Santalha; Carlos Lozoya; Natacha Santos; Diana Silva; Maria João Vasconcelos; Luís Taborda-Barata; Célia Carvalhal; Maria Fernanda Teixeira; Rodrigo Rodrigues Alves; Ana Sofia Moreira; Cláudia Sofia Pinto; Pedro Morais Silva; Carlos Alves; Raquel Câmara; Didina Coelho; Diana Bordalo; Ricardo M Fernandes; Rosário Ferreira; Fernando Menezes; Ricardo Gomes; Maria José Calix; Ana Marques; João Cardoso; Madalena Emiliano; Rita Gerardo; Carlos Nunes; Rita Câmara; José Alberto Ferreira; Aurora Carvalho; Paulo Freitas; Ricardo Correia; Joao A Fonseca Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2019-11-07 Impact factor: 2.692