The use of conventional and complementary treatments for XXXX in the community.

@entity1 @entity626 @entity571 @entity4823 @entity13488 @entity158
OBJECTIVES: The aim of the survey was to assess the prevalence of clinically diagnosed @entity626 ( @entity571 ) in two general practice populations in the Wessex region (practice A: a deprived urban population and practice B: an affluent rural population) and to assess both conventional and complementary therapy use in these two populations. METHODS: All @entity1 over 55 yr with a clinical diagnosis of knee @entity571 , as identified from the practice computerized records, were sent a questionnaire about their knee @entity158 and their use of conventional and complementary treatments. RESULTS: A total of 4566 @entity1 over 55 yr were registered in the two practices. Of these, 828 (18.13%) had a clinical diagnosis of knee @entity571 and 240 (29%) @entity1 were asymptomatic at the time of survey. Physiotherapy was under-utilized with only 13.1% of @entity1 having received either hospital- or GP-based physiotherapy. There was a high prevalence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use, being significantly more in the affluent population (P < 0.05). In the affluent population there were statistically more social class groups 1-3a; statistically more NSAIDs, @entity4823 and @entity13488 were also used. The median amount spent on complementary medicine per month was 5.00 UK pounds, with the affluent population spending significantly more (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this population, physiotherapy is an under-utilized treatment for knee @entity571 , in spite of its recommendation as first-line treatment in all guidelines. Complementary medicines and therapies are commonly used, particularly in affluent populations.
