Exploration of Why Alaskans Use Complementary Medicine

Abstract

Purpose: To explore why Alaskans choose to pursue complementary medicine as a health care option. Design: Qualitative descriptive. Method: A purposive convenient recruitment methodology was used to recruit project participants. Focus groups were conducted to collect the research data. Findings: Five themes were identified that highlighted why participants use complementary medicine: dissatisfaction, effective, holistic, relationship focused, and a personal journey.

Keywords

complementary medicine integrative medicine alternative medicine patient focused holistic nutrition homeopathic

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