June 17, 2004 – More Canadians Seeing Alternative and Complementary Medicine (CAM) Practitioner, Latest Survey Finds1 on health published by Statistics Canada.
The survey shows that 12% of Canadians consulted an alternative medicine practitioner in 2003. Women are at least twice as likely as men to use the services of these practitioners (18% versus 8.6%).
In ten years, the use of alternative and complementary medicine (CAM) has more than doubled in Canada. In 1994, only 5% of Canadians reported seeing an alternative medicine practitioner. Since then, the number has steadily increased: 6.5% of users in 1996-97, 7.6% in 1998-99 and 11% in 2000-01.
In the survey, practitioners of unconventional medicine include massage therapists, acupuncturists, homeopaths, naturopaths, teachers of Feldenkrais and Alexander techniques, relaxologists, teachers of biofeedback techniques, “rolfer” , herbalists, reflexologists, as well as spiritual and religious healers.
Among the strongest followers of unconventional approaches are those aged 25 to 44. Among those under 20 and over 65, consultation with a practitioner of unconventional medicine remains marginal.
In Quebec, residents of Estrie (16.3%) and the Laurentians (16.2%) consult alternative practitioners the most, closely followed by residents of Lanaudière (15.9%) and Chaudière-Appalaches (15.8%). Alternative and complementary approaches are not very popular in the North Shore (8.2% of users), Gaspésie (7.7%) and James Bay (4.4%).
Among all the regions of Canada, it is in the Yukon (16.9%) that practitioners of alternative medicine are consulted the most. Next come Saskatchewan (16.2% of users), Alberta (15.9%), British Columbia (13.6%) and Quebec (12.9%).
Diep Truong – HealthPassport.net
1. Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2004. www.statcan.ca.
