Cost–benefit evaluation of homeopathic versus conventional therapy in respiratory diseases

Rossi, Elio; Crudeli, L; Endrizzi, Cristina; Garibaldi, Danila

doi:10.1016/j.homp.2008.11.005

Cited by 37 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Many countries have implemented policies aimed at reducing inappropriate prescribing of antimicrobials in primary care [6], [22]. In that context, our results are not unexpected and can contribute to reinforce the motivation of decision makers to pursue these policies [23]–[25].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 68%

Management of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections by Different Medical Practices, Including Homeopathy, and Consumption of Antibiotics in Primary Care: The EPI3 Cohort Study in France 2007–2008

et al. 2014

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BackgroundPrescribing of antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) varies substantially in primary care.ObjectivesTo describe and compare antibiotic and antipyretic/anti-inflammatory drugs use, URTI symptoms' resolution and occurrence of potentially-associated infections in patients seeking care from general practitioners (GPs) who exclusively prescribe conventional medications (GP-CM), regularly prescribe homeopathy within a mixed practice (GP-Mx), or are certified homeopathic GPs (GP-Ho).MethodThe EPI3 survey was a nationwide population-based study of a representative sample of 825 GPs and their patients in France (2007–2008). GP recruitment was stratified by self-declared homeopathic prescribing preferences. Adults and children with confirmed URTI were asked to participate in a standardized telephone interview at inclusion, one-, three- and twelve-month follow up. Study outcomes included medication consumption, URTI symptoms' resolution and potentially-associated infections (sinusitis or otitis media/externa) as reported by patients. Analyses included calibration to account for non-respondents and groups were compared using multivate analyses adjusting for baseline differences with a propensity score.Results518 adults and children with URTI (79.3% rhinopharyngitis) were included (36.9% response rate comparable between groups). As opposed to GP-CM patients, patients in the GP-Ho group showed significantly lower consumption of antibiotics (Odds ratio (OR) = 0.43, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.27–0.68) and antipyretic/anti-inflammatory drugs (OR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.38–0.76) with similar evolution in related symptoms (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 0.64–2.10). An excess of potentially-associated infections (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 0.90–3.20) was observed in the GP-Ho group (not statistically significant). No difference was found between GP-CM and GP-Mx patients.ConclusionPatients who chose to consult GPs certified in homeopathy used less antibiotics and antipyretic/anti-inflammatory drugs for URTI than those seen by GPs prescribing conventional medications. No difference was observed in patients consulting GPs within mixed-practice. A non-statistically significant excess was estimated through modelling for associated infections in the GP-Ho group and needs to be further studied.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 68%

Management of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections by Different Medical Practices, Including Homeopathy, and Consumption of Antibiotics in Primary Care: The EPI3 Cohort Study in France 2007–2008

et al. 2014

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“…Not only do homeopathic treatments present a low risk of adverse reactions, the low cost of homeopathic preparations is low and they distinction from the concept of placebo [29,34]. In contrast, chronic use of chemical medicines can be interpreted from a homeopathic view as a phenomenon of "symptom suppression," given that patients may develop terminal kidney failure [20].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlation of medical anamnesis with current disease in Chronic Kidney Disease patients receiving Hemodialysis: Retrospective study of causative exacerbating factors from homeopathic point of view

Nikitopoulou¹,

Kachrilas²,

Kyvellos³

et al. 2015

Int Arch Med

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Background: Chronic diseases are illnesses or health conditions that are persistent and have long-term effects on the physical status of the human body. The manifestation of a chronic disease is the result of coexistence of multiple chronic diseases. Especially, the chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a representative chronic syndrome of multifactorial affair, characterized by a gradual progression. Methods: This study considered 81 patients with CKD and investigated the correlation between the disease and the patients' demographics, anamnesis, and clinical presentation, as well as the potential relationship between the disease and other illnesses. Results: A significant number of diseases can lead to the manifestation of CKD, and notably, many of them are idiopathic. However, despite the rapid development in medical science and pharmaceutical technology and a plethora of research trials, there is a lack of ability to identify and analyze the causes and pathophysiologic mechanisms that are responsible for the manifestation of CKD. Conclusions: This retrospective study investigates the factors that may play a role in the manifestation of CKD through the knowledge and research of both conventional medicine and homeopathy.

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“…Surprisingly, no difference was found between the judgements of homeopathy and herbal remedies. Although homeopathy is cheaper than conventional therapy (25)(26), there is no scientific evidence that it is beneficial in any of the diseases for which it is administered, and its usefulness is dismissed by leading experts in official medicine (27). On the contrary, if adequately selected, herbal remedies may playa role in preventing AOM.…”

Section: ' %mentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Children with Recurrent Acute Otitis Media in Italy

Marchisio

Bianchini

Galeone

et al. 2011

Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol

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Controlling environmental factors, chemoprophylaxis, immunoprophylaxis and surgery are considered possible means of preventing recurrent acute otitis media (RAOM), but there are no available data concerning the paediatric use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). We evaluated the uses of CAM (homeopathy and/or herbal medicine) as means of preventing AOM in children with a history of RAOM. Eight hundred and forty Italian children with RAOM (~3 episodes in six months) aged 1-7 years were surveyed in 2009 using a face-to-face questionnaire, filled by parents or caregivers, that explored the prevalence, determinants, reasons, cost, and perceived safety and efficacy of CAM. About one-half (46%) of the children used CAM, significantly more than the number who used immunoprophylaxis (influenza vaccine 15%; p<0.05), PCV-7 34%; p< 0.05) or chemoprophylaxis (2%; p<0.001). Use of CAM in the family was the only important factor positively associated with the use of CAM in children (adjusted OR 7.94; 95% CI: 5.26-11.99).The main reasons for using CAM were a fear of the adverse effects of conventional medicine (40%) and to increase host defences (20%). CAM was widely seen as safe (95%) and highly effective (68%). CAM prescribers were paediatricians in 50.7% of cases; self-initiation was reported by 23% of respondents. CAM expenditure was between €25 and €50/ month in 27.6% of cases and~€50/month in 16%. Children with RAOM should be considered among the categories of subjects likely to be using CAM. Together with the fact that paediatricians are the main prescribers, this is worrying because of the current lack of evidence regarding the efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of CAM in the prevention of RAOM.The use ofcomplementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in paediatrics has grown dramatically in the Western world over recent years. It has been shown that approximately 20-40% of healthy children seen in outpatient paediatric clinics (1-3) and more than 50% of children with chronic, recurrent or incurable conditions use CAM, almost always in conjunction with mainstream medicine (4-10). Most families use

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Cost–benefit evaluation of homeopathic versus conventional therapy in respiratory diseases

Cited by 37 publications

References 19 publications

Management of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections by Different Medical Practices, Including Homeopathy, and Consumption of Antibiotics in Primary Care: The EPI3 Cohort Study in France 2007–2008

Management of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections by Different Medical Practices, Including Homeopathy, and Consumption of Antibiotics in Primary Care: The EPI3 Cohort Study in France 2007–2008

Correlation of medical anamnesis with current disease in Chronic Kidney Disease patients receiving Hemodialysis: Retrospective study of causative exacerbating factors from homeopathic point of view

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Children with Recurrent Acute Otitis Media in Italy

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