Complementary and alternative medicine: A pilot survey of current clinical practice and attitudes of physiotherapists in the Otago region of New Zealand

Abstract

This pilot survey aimed to explore the feasibility of conducting a nationwide survey investigating the current practice and attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in New Zealand registered physiotherapists. This was a cross-sectional, online study using a questionnaire developed from previous survey instruments. An electronic link to the questionnaire was distributed via email to members of the Otago Branch of Physiotherapy New Zealand (n = 344). Questions included current clinical practice and use of CAM as well as attitudes and opinions on its effectiveness. Feasibility outcomes of this survey included the response rate and completion rate. Data were analysed in Microsoft Excel®. The response rate was 10.5% (n = 36) and the completion rate was 86.1% (n = 31/36). A range of conditions treated with CAM were cited by respondents; the most frequently treated condition was “back and neck pain” (n = 10/36). Physiotherapists in this sample believed acupuncture and massage are the most effective CAM modalities used for “back and neck pain” treatment and were most likely to use acupuncture and massage as CAM modalities when treating these conditions. Acupuncture was found to be the most common CAM practiced by respondents, and an acupuncturist was the CAM practitioner to which patients are most commonly referred by respondents. This study demonstrated that conducting a nationwide survey is feasible, subject to an improved survey design and increased response rate.