Patient Satisfaction with Anthroposophic vs. Conventional Care
Author Information
Author(s): Esch Barbara M, Marian Florica, Busato André, Heusser Peter
Primary Institution: University of Bern, Switzerland
Hypothesis
How does patient satisfaction compare between anthroposophic medicine and conventional medicine?
Conclusion
Patients receiving anthroposophic medicine were significantly more satisfied and reported fewer adverse side effects compared to those receiving conventional care.
Supporting Evidence
- 56.1% of AM patients were very satisfied compared to 43.4% of CON patients.
- 38.7% of AM patients felt their treatment expectations were completely fulfilled versus 32.6% for CON.
- AM patients reported significantly fewer adverse side effects (9.3% vs. 15.4% for CON).
- AM consultations lasted on average 23.3 minutes compared to 16.8 minutes for CON.
Takeaway
Patients who see anthroposophic doctors feel happier with their care and have fewer side effects than those who see regular doctors.
Methodology
The study collected data on patient satisfaction four weeks after treatment from 1946 patients of 71 conventional and 32 anthroposophic physicians using validated questionnaires.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to self-reporting and the higher motivation of AM physicians.
Limitations
The study's generalizability is limited due to selection bias, differing return rates, and the short follow-up period.
Participant Demographics
Participants were primarily adult patients over 16 years old, with a higher proportion of women and those with chronic illnesses in the AM group.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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