The expectations, healt beliefs and behaviour of patients seeking homoeopathic and conventional medicine

ABSTRACT

Research was carried out to determine whether or not there was difference in the health beliefs, expectations and behaviour of a sample of 92 patients attending a dermatological or rheumatological outpatient clinic which offered either homoeopathic treatment (N=47) or conventional treatment (N=45). Self-administered questionnaires were used which examined patients'pathwaysto care, expectations, beliefs, behaviour and multidimensional health locus of control. The two key differences between those seeking homoeopathic and those seeking conventional medicine were in terms of their reasons for attending a homeopathic or conventional clinic, and their beliefs about their presenting dermatological or rheumatological condition