Does the use of alternative and complementary medicine and beliefs affect the decision to consult scientifc medicine? Study of sociocultural variables in the town of Paihuano

Abstract

The sociocultural variables and specific beliefs of each person give a contextual and relative validity of knowledge, therefore, they are influential elements in relation to the concept of physical or mental health. A cross - sectional descriptive study was implemented, aiming to understand the influence of sociocultural factors in the consultation of scientific medicine. A survey among 15 year old and older was conducted, collecting information on socio-demographic characteristics, use of alternative therapy and complementary (MAC) and beliefs, in the town of Paihuano. According to 74.7% of the respondents, the use of MAC does not affect the decision to consult scientific medicine; 71.9% answered that their beliefs do not affect the decision to consult scientific medicine; and 75.5% comment that both aspects of medicine are complementary. When performing the variance analysis regarding the variables above mentioned, stratified according to age, religion, education and health perception, give us a probability of 0.984, 0.998, 0.994 and 0.996 respectively. The critical Fisher F value is not met in any of the cases. Therefore, it suggests that the beliefs and use of MAC do not affect the decision to consult scientific medicine in the commune of Paihuano.