In a population-based nested case-control study computer-assisted telephone interviews were performed in 351 subjects with allergies (hay fever, asthma, atopic eczema, food hypersensitivity). Information on demographics, prevalence, motivation, CAM type and provider, costs, subjective assessment of complementary and conventional treatment and health-related quality of life (QoL) was obtained. 26.5% of participants used CAM (homeopathy (35.3%), autologous blood injection (28.1%), acupuncture (16.6%), bioresonance (10.0%)) for their allergies. Users were significantly younger (age Median 43 vs. 47) and better educated (school education >8 yrs. vs. £ 8 yrs.: OR 2.17) than nonusers and mostly motivated by the assumption of little side effects (78.3%), the wish to try everything (71.7%), and unsatisfying results of conventional therapy (66.3%). CAM was predominantly provided by medical doctors (60.9%) and associated with overall costs of Median 205 . Users felt a greater impact on health-related QoL and scored the efficacy of conventional therapy significantly lower than nonusers. The majority of users assessed the results of CAM as very or rather good (82,4%).
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In a population-based nested case-control study computer-assisted telephone interviews were performed in 351 subjects with allergies (hay fever, asthma, atopic eczema, food hypersensitivity). Information on demographics, prevalence, motivation, CAM type and provider, costs, subjective assessment of complementary and conventional treatment and health-related quality of life (QoL) was obtained. 26.5% of participants used CAM (homeopathy (35.3%), autologous blood injection (28.1%), acupuncture (16....
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