Editorial

Stan Innes

The Year Begins
The year appears to have quickly regained its routine and rhythm after the festive season. I hope the year holds a healthy balance of work and play for all. It is a difficult job to keep a handle on the comings and goings of all things that relate to the Chiropractic and Osteopathic professions in Australasia. I appreciate those who take the time to forward on relevant material (that was a none to subtle hint to all who do come across anything that they deem relevant to please forward it to me!).

One such news item was the recent study published “The Continuing use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in South Australia: Costs and Beliefs in 2004”¹ by Alastair MacLennan and Stephen Myers who were members of the Australian Government’s Expert Committee on Complementary Medicines in the Australian Health System. The study was designed to survey in South Australia the trend in complimentary alternative medicines (CAM) costs and usage since the Pan Pharmaceuticals crisis. This was the third study conducted (1995, 2000, 2004) and also sought the public’s beliefs concerning CAM’s and assessed their levels of quality of life.

A question first, why are Chiropractors and Osteopaths regarded as belonging in the ‘CAM Therapist’ category, along with Naturopath/Natural Therapist, Acupuncturist, Homeopath, Iridologist, Reflexologist, Aromatherapist, Herbal therapist. Medicare Australia feels we belong in the ‘Allied Health Professional’ category along with Aboriginal Health Worker, Audiologist, Dietitian, Mental Health Worker, Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, Podiatrist, Psychologist, Speech Pathologist?

That issue to one side, the authors concluded that in 2004, CAMs were used by 52.2% of the population. The greatest use was in women aged 25 to 34 years, with higher income and education levels. CAM therapists had been visited by 26.5% of the population. The total extrapolated cost Australia of CAMs and CAM therapists in 2004 was AUD$1.8 billion, which was a decrease from AUD $2.3 billion in 2000. CAMs were used mostly to maintain the general health. The users of CAM had lower quality of life scores than non-users. Among CAM users, 49.7% used conventional medicines on the same day and 57.2% did not report the use of CAM’s to their doctor.

In relation to “us”, it would appear that from 1993 to 2000 Chiropractic use had increased from 15% to 16.7% but not changed to 2004, from 1993 to 2000 Osteopathic utilisation had doubled from 0.2% to 0.4% but not changed to 2004. 16.7% of the population seek chiropractic care, which is more than all other ‘CAM therapists’ combined.

More questions. Has the public use of chiropractic / osteopathic care reached its equilibrium point in the Australian market place? Is this our “lot in life”? Why has this plateaued? Will increasing utilisation result in increased quality of life? (If yes, how do we substantiate this claim?). Can this be increased ? Does it need to be increased? If so, how do we accomplish this task? I received an email this week extolling the benefits of “hi end commercials on National TV” and seeking therapists who were “now ready to go to the next level”. This marketing program will rout to your office any caller who responds to the advert. I have to admit to healthy dose of “cringe factor”. I hope our path lies in the pursuit of excellence in the delivery of quality health care and a growing recognition of that by the public and our health providing peers.

Reference:

1. Alastair H MacLennan, Stephen P Myers and Anne W Taylor. MJA 2006; 184(1): 27-31