Preprint / Version 1

Use and acceptance of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine in Germany—an online representative cross-sectional study

Authors

  • Michael Jeitler Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • Miriam Ortiz Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • Benno Brinkhaus Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • Mike Sigl Institute for Cultural Studies, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • Rasmus Hoffmann Institute for Sociology, Otto-Friedrich-University Bamberg, Bamberg, Germany
  • Miriam Trübner Institute for Sociology, Otto-Friedrich-University Bamberg, Bamberg, Germany
  • Andreas Michalsen Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • Manfred Wischnewsky Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
  • Christian Kessler Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Keywords:

traditional medicine, traditional European medicine, complementary medicine, integrative medicine, alternative medicine, online-representative, cross-sectional study, Naturheilkunde

Abstract

Older representative surveys show that Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) is used by about 60% of the German population. However, no data exists for the current nationwide situation. The main aim of this cross-sectional study is to investigate the current use and acceptance of TCIM in Germany. Methods This study is based on a representative sample of the German population aged 18–75 years. Participants were asked about the use and acceptance of TCIM. The survey was conducted online using Computer Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) in 2022 by three renowned German market research institutes on behalf of and in close coordination with the working group. The data set was analyzed descriptively and inferentially. Results In total, 4,065 participants (52% female, 48% male, 0.4% diverse) responded completely (response rate: 21.5%). Among participants, 70% stated that they had used TCIM at some point in their lives, with 32% doing so in the last 12 months and 18% currently. The most common reason given (17%) was musculoskeletal pain. For their own health, 39% stated that TCIM is important. Traditional European Medicine was rated as very/mainly effective by 27% of participants and as partly effective by 44% (conventional medicine: 69% very/mainly effective, 19% partly effective). As a complementary treatment strategy to conventional medicine, 35% considered TCIM to be optimal (“Complementary Medicine”), 33% in combination with conventional medicine (“Integrative Medicine”) and 5% without conventional medicine (“Alternative Medicine”). The majority of the participants were in favor of more research on TCIM and stated that the costs of TCIM services should be covered by health insurance companies (71% and 69%, respectively). Conclusion These results from a representative online-population suggest that the use of TCIM in Germany remains at a high level. The nationwide relevance of TCIM should be given greater consideration in German health care policy making. TCIM should be systematically investigated using appropriate study designs and methods including high quality randomized clinical trials to investigate their effectiveness, efficacy, therapeutic safety and costs in the future. Keywords: traditional medicine, traditional European medicine, complementary medicine, integrative medicine, alternative medicine, online-representative, cross-sectional study, Naturheilkunde

Author Biographies

Michael Jeitler, Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Department of Internal Medicine and Nature-Based Therapies, Immanuel Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Andreas Michalsen, Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Department of Internal Medicine and Nature-Based Therapies, Immanuel Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Christian Kessler, Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Department of Internal Medicine and Nature-Based Therapies, Immanuel Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany