Referral to Chinese medicine practitioners in Australian primary care: a survey of New South Wales rural and regional general practitioners.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chinese medicine practitioners (CMPs) play an important part in rural and regional Australian healthcare. A survey was conducted to investigate referral practices between Chinese medicine (CM) and conventional primary health care practitioners in this region.

Methods

A 27-item questionnaire was sent to all 1486 general practitioners (GPs) currently practising in rural and regional Divisions of General Practice in New South Wales, Australia. This survey explored GP opinions, perceptions and practices in relation to complementary and alternative medicine or Chinese medicine specifically.

Results

A total of 585 GPs completed the questionnaire. Forty-nine were returned as 'no longer at this address', resulting in an adjusted response rate of 40.7%. One in ten G

SUBMITTER: Wardle JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3655835 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature