| Homeopathy and conventional medicine: an outcomes study comparing effectiveness in a primary care setting. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 11327521 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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BACKGROUND: Recent meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials in homeopathy have suggested that homeopathy is more than a placebo response. OBJECTIVE: Comparison of the effectiveness of homeopathy in primary care with conventional medicine in primary care for three commonly encountered clinical conditions. DESIGN: An international multicenter, prospective, observational study in a real world medical setting comparing the effectiveness of homeopathy with conventional medicine. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty (30) investigators with conventional medical licenses at six clinical sites in four countries enrolled 500 consecutive patients with at least one of the following three complaints: (1) upper respiratory tract complaints including allergies; (2) lower respiratory tract complaints including allergies; or (3) ear complaints. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes criterion was the response to treatment, defined as cured or major improvement after 14 days of treatment. Secondary outcomes criteria were: (1) rate of recovery; (2) occurrence of adverse events; (3) patient satisfaction; and (4) length of consultation. RESULTS: Four hundred and fifty-six (456) patient visits were compared: 281 received homeopathy, 175 received conventional medicine. The response to treatment as measured by the primary outcomes criterion for patients receiving homeopathy was 82.6%, for conventional medicine it was 68%. Improvement in less than 1 day and in 1 to 3 days was noted in 67.3% of the group receiving homeopathy and in 56.6% of those receiving conventional medicine. The adverse events for those treated with conventional medicine was 22.3% versus 7.8% for those treated with homeopathy. Seventy-nine percent (79.0%) of patients treated with homeopathy were very satisfied and 65.1% of patients treated with conventional, medicine were very satisfied. In both treatment groups 60% of cases had consultations lasting between 5 and 15 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: Homeopathy appeared to be at least as effective as conventional medical care in the treatment of patients with the three conditions studied. |
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Authors:
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D Riley; M Fischer; B Singh; M Haidvogl; M Heger |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Multicenter Study; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) Volume: 7 ISSN: 1075-5535 ISO Abbreviation: J Altern Complement Med Publication Date: 2001 Apr |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2001-04-30 Completed Date: 2001-08-23 Revised Date: 2007-11-15 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9508124 Medline TA: J Altern Complement Med Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 149-59 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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University of New Mexico Medical School, Albuquerque, USA. dsriley@integrativemed.org |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Adolescent Adult Aged Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use* Austria Child Child, Preschool Ear Diseases / drug therapy* Germany Homeopathy* Humans Infant Interviews as Topic Middle Aged Outcome Assessment (Health Care)* Patient Satisfaction Primary Health Care* Prospective Studies Respiratory Tract Diseases / drug therapy* Switzerland Treatment Outcome United States |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Anti-Bacterial Agents |
| Comments/Corrections | |
Comment In:
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J Altern Complement Med. 2001 Apr;7(2):123-5
[PMID:
11327516
]
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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