Le medicine non convenzionali in Toscana: attitudini e utilizzo nella popolazione.

OBJECTIVES: With the aim of facilitating complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) regulation by decision-makers in the Tuscan region, objectives of the analysis were: 1) to estimate the frequency and motivations of CAM use (acupuncture, homeopathy, phytotherapy, manipulative therapies) within the Tuscan population; 2) to identify variables associated with CAM use; 3) to investigate public opinion concerning CAM. DESIGN: We have analysed the regional data collected by the ISTAT through the survey Multiscopo su "Condizioni di salute e ricorso ai servizi sanitari", years 1999-2000. PARTICIPANTS: The analysis was carried out on 5670 subjects > 20 years resident in the Tuscan region between July 1999 and June 2000. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Usefulness, utilization and benefits concerning CAM. RESULTS: Forty-five percent of the surveyed population consider useful at least one type of CAM, and 20% had used CAM at least once in the three years prior to the interview. Most frequent users are middle-aged women with higher educational levels, and manipulative therapies and homeopathy are the most used remedies. Disorders that mostly have induced the population to use CAM are pain syndromes. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the Tuscan population has a positive attitude towards CAM use, which is slightly more frequent than the average national use.