ArticlePloS one2019
Characteristics of complementary medicine therapists in Switzerland: A cross-sectional study.
Article in PloS one, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 11 citations in OpenAlex.
- "I Felt Like I Was Cut in Two": Postcesarean Bodies and Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Switzerland.Culture, medicine and psychiatry · 2024Article
- Practicing traditional Chinese medicine in the COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland - an exploratory study.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2022Article
- Knowledge Mapping of International Research on Acupuncture for Chronic Pain: A Bibliometric Analysis.Journal of pain research · 2022Review
- A cross-sectional workforce survey of three traditional and complementary medicine professions in Ontario, Canada.PloS one · 2021Article
- Osteopathy in the French-speaking part of Switzerland: Practitioners' profile and scope of back pain management.PloS one · 2020Observational
- The Spanish Osteopathic Practitioners Estimates and RAtes (OPERA) study: A cross-sectional survey.PloS one · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveMore than 27,000 complementary medicine (CM) therapists are registered in Switzerland, but limited data are available on their occupational profile and role in the healthcare system. Herein we aimed to gain a better understanding of the professional profile of non-physician licensed therapists, focusing on acupuncture, osteopathy, and European naturopathy.
designThis cross-sectional study was based on an online anonymous survey conducted from March to June 2017. SETTING AND
participantsAll 1549 non-physician registered osteopaths, acupuncturists, and naturopaths in the French-speaking part of Switzerland were asked to complete the survey.
main outcome measuresWe measured the therapists' demographics, training and practice characteristics, and workload.
resultsA total of 426 therapists returned the questionnaire (response rate: 27.5%). The mean age of the respondents was 46.0 years (SD 11.6) and most were women (67.8%). CM represented the main professional activity for a majority of therapists (82.8%), most of whom were independent (86.3%). The length and number of consultations per month varied across professions. Multivariate analysis showed that acupuncturists and naturopaths performed significantly fewer consults per month than osteopaths did. However, consultation length was significantly longer for acupuncturists and naturopaths than for osteopaths. Acupuncturists (71.6%) and naturopaths (64.4%) were significantly more favorable than osteopaths (27.7%) to have consultation costs covered by basic health insurance. Professional profiles differed between osteopaths, on the one hand, and naturopaths and acupuncturists, on the other, mainly regarding workload, treatment duration, and main reasons to consult.
conclusionsThis first study to investigate a variety of therapist profiles in Switzerland provides useful information about their activities and role within the Swiss healthcare system. Although all three professions are encompassed under the same umbrella term (CM), our study showed that they have specific work cultures and areas of intervention in the healthcare system.
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