Alternative health care providers/practitioners and dietary supplementation: a survey of usage and attitudes among university students

Abstract

There is little information concerning the use of, and attitudes towards health services that are "outside" of the usual medical services in New Zealand This study investigated four factors (lifestyle, diet and dietary supplements, use of, and attitudes towards conventional and alternative health care providers, and preferred treatment choices for a range of chronic and acute illnesses) thought to be associated with usage of and attitudes of a small number of university students. The majority of the students had utilised the services of an alternative health care provider (AHCP) during the previous year with pharmacists/chemists being the most popular followed by health shop assistants, acupuncturists, homeopaths, masseuses and chiropractors. Frequency of visits to AHCP varied with gender. Whilst the majority of females used (AHCPs) on a continuous basis, with a consultation approximately every three months, the majority of males had used an AHCP once only. The majority of students had also consulted a General practitioner (GP) in the past year with a large proportion claiming satisfaction with treatment received during their last appointment. However, differences in how male and female students expressed their choice of health care provider overall for acute and chronic health complaints was found. Females were more likely to use both orthodox and alternative types of treatments for chronic complaints and proportionally more likely than their male peers to use both types for those of an acute nature. Males appeared to use the services of the orthodox medical system alone for their acute and chronic illnesses. Many of the students (both male and female) would rather treat themselves for both acute and chronic illnesses. The great majority of students consumed extra nutrients in the form of foods whilst half claimed to take dietary supplements regularly for specific health purposes. The most commonly used supplements were the B complex vitamins, multi vitamin mixtures, vitamin C and iron. This study reveals that whilst students are using, or at least willing to try, "outside" health services, and many make use of dietary supplements, they also regularly label and manage symptoms for themselves.