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What Physicians Think of It: A Meta-analysis

Edzard Ernst, MD; Karl-Ludwig Resch, MD; Adrian R. White, MD

Arch Intern Med. 1995;155(22):2405-2408.

Abstract
Background
Complementary (or alternative) medicine has become a prevalent phenomenon in most industrialized countries. At present the evidence from randomized controlled trials investigating its effectiveness is fragmentary and therefore inconclusive.

Objective
To assess whether physicians perceive complementary medicine as useful and/or effective.

Method
A literature search was performed to retrieve all relevant articles. Twelve surveys addressing this question were found and analyzed by evaluating perceived usefulness and/or effectiveness.

Results
The results show a remarkable variability between surveys. On average physicians perceive complementary medicine as moderately effective—the rating was 46 ± 18 on a scale of 0 to 100 points. Young physicians seem to judge complementary medicine more optimistically than their more seasoned colleagues. There is no trend to suggest that complementary medicine is increasingly perceived as useful and/or effective. The data do not answer the question whether physicians view complementary medicine as a nonspecific powerful placebo or as specifically effective.

Conclusion
Complementary medicine may be useful; however, the notion urgently needs to be tested in randomized controlled trials.

(Arch Intern Med. 1995;155:2405-2408)

Author Affiliations
From the Postgraduate Medical School and Centre for Complementary Health Studies, University of Exeter, Exeter, England.

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