Orv Hetil. 2002 Apr; 143(17): 891-6.

[Correlations of alternative medicine, health status and health care in Hungary]

Buda L, Lampek K, Tahin T.

INTRODUCTION: Alternative medicine has a growing popularity in Hungary as well as in other Western countries. However, we are in lack of accurate empirical data on the use of this kind of care and its relationship toward official health care system. AIMS: This paper focuses on the questions of the use of, prospective willingness to use, and attitudes toward alternative medicine with regard to the demographic background, general health status and habits of visiting doctors. METHOD: The source of data is a Baranya county health survey from 1999 (N = 2357). The statistical method of analysing data is regression analysis. RESULTS: Alternative medicine is popular mostly in groups of people with younger age, higher level of education and income. Preferring alternative care is connected to having more chronic, non-fatal illnesses while the number of fatal illnesses on one hand and activity restriction on the other have no significant role. Positive relationship to alternative medicine is connected to more overall visits of doctors but less of GP-s. CONCLUSIONS: Regarding the demographic background and health status alternative medicine in Hungary appears similar to what publications from Western countries have already enlighted. Data on utilization of official health care can refer to the possibility that alternative medicine might serve as an alternative of primary care but not of secondary care.