Schweiz Rundsch Med Prax. 1999 Jun; 88(25-26): 1113-9.

[Parallel use of medical services? Patterns of using complementary medicine and biomedicine]

Kessler D, Hatz C, Schär A.

Schweizerischer Nationalfonds, Nationales Forschungsprogramm 34, Basel.

In order to identify behavioural patterns within the pluralistic medical system, 38 patients have been observed over a period of two years. The most notable quality of behaviour is its flexibility. Single patients use complementary medicine and biomedicine in pragmatic and differentiated ways that change over time. Parallelism can be observed among the offered medical services, while their use is to be divided into parallel, alternate, alternative and complementary forms. Phases of exclusive use of complementary medicine occur, but during the two year period under investigation, all patients have made use of biomedicine.