[Knowledge of the term and methods of alternative medicine in the example of the patients of one bioresonance practice].

UNLABELLED: The growing number of patients of various kinds of unconventional medicine poses a question as to the reason of taking up such treatments. Do such people know whether the methods of treatment they opt for are scientifically proven? Aim of the study was to test the knowledge among patients of bioresonance practice on methods of alternative medicine and to determine the break down of those patients based on their sex, age and the level of education.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: 152 patients of bioresonance practice were asked to fill in an anonymous questionnaire. The respondents were to choose unconventional methods of treatment from the list of ten. Afterwards they were asked to answer 4 questions that referred to the opinion on and experience with alternative medicine. Chi square test and t-Student test were used to find statistical significance.

RESULTS: The level of education is the only factor which determines the knowledge of the methods of alternative medicine. What is more, a mere third of patients realized that they used such a method. For one in four respondents it did not matter whether the method was properly tested and scientifically proven. Some 7.5% did not understand the meaning of the term 'alternative medicine' and did not differentiate such methods from conventional ones.

CONCLUSIONS: There is quite a high percentage of people who do not know that the methods of treatment selected are unconventional. The second alarming fact is that the people who decide on treatment in an unconventional way are not concerned with any scientific evidence. The knowledge of the term and methods of alternative medicine increases with the education level.