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BMC Primary Care
Published in: BMC Primary Care 1/2007

Open Access 01-12-2007 | Research article

The use of CAM and conventional treatments among primary care consulters with chronic musculoskeletal pain

Authors: Majid Artus, Peter Croft, Martyn Lewis

Published in: BMC Primary Care | Issue 1/2007

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Abstract

Background

Chronic musculoskeletal pain is the single most cited reason for use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Primary care is the most frequent conventional medical service used by patients with pain in the UK. We are unaware, however, of a direct evidence of the extent of CAM use by primary care patients, and how successful they perceive it to be.

Methods

Aims and objectives

To determine CAM use among patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain who have consulted about their pain in primary care.

Study design

Face-to-face interview-based survey.

Setting

Three general practices in North Staffordshire.

Participants

Respondents to a population pain survey who had reported having musculoskeletal pain in the survey and who had consulted about their pain in primary care in the previous 12 months as well as consenting to further research and agreeing to an interview. Information was gathered about their pain and the use of all treatments for pain, including CAM, in the previous year.

Results

138 interviews were completed. 116 participants (84%) had used at least one CAM treatment for pain in the previous year. 65% were current users of CAM. The ratio of over-the-counter CAM use to care from a CAM provider was 3:2. 111 participants (80%) had used conventional treatment. 95 (69%) were using a combination of CAM and conventional treatment. Glucosamine and fish oil were the most commonly used CAM treatments (38%, 35% respectively). Most CAM treatments were scored on average as being helpful, and users indicated that they intended to use again 87% of the CAM treatments they had already used.

Conclusion

We provide direct evidence that most primary care consulters with chronic musculoskeletal pain have used CAM in the previous year, usually in combination with conventional treatments. The high prevalence and wide range of users experiences of benefit and harm from CAM strengthen the argument for more research into this type of medicine to quantify benefit and assess safety. The observation that most users of conventional medicine also used CAM suggests a continuing need for more investigation of effective pain management in primary care.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
The use of CAM and conventional treatments among primary care consulters with chronic musculoskeletal pain
Authors
Majid Artus
Peter Croft
Martyn Lewis
Publication date
01-12-2007
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Primary Care / Issue 1/2007
Electronic ISSN: 2731-4553
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2296-8-26

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