5,000,000 Ontarians expect to visit a Naturopathic Doctor under new, effective regulation (press release)

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Fully 40% of Ontarians - or 5,000,000 potential patients - say they are likely to see a Naturopathic Doctor (ND) in the next few years, according to recent public opinion research done for the Coalition for Naturopathic Medicine.

The likelihood of using a Naturopathic Doctor in the future jumps significantly to almost 7-out-of-10 as people learn more about NDs' education and training and about the proposed new regulation. For example, 69% of Ontarians are more likely to use a Naturopathic Doctor after knowing that, to register, an ND must pass rigorous regulatory board exams that are standardized across North America.

Nearly one-fifth (18%) of Ontarians say they have visited a Naturopathic Doctor (ND) for treatment of an illness or for illness prevention counselling. "With that many Ontarians wanting to use the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, it is absolutely essential that the province bring in effective regulation of the profession," Ruth Ann Baron, ND, President of the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors (OAND) and spokesperson for the Coalition, said in response to the release on May 19 of the recommendation by the Health Professions Regulatory Advisory Council (HPRAC) that regulation of Naturopathic Doctors be moved under the Regulated Health Practitioners' Act (RHPA). "We have been functioning under legislation that was written in 1925, so the current regulation is simply too antiquated and toothless for the 21st century. If the province adopts it, the HPRAC recommendation will provide real protection to both the public and our profession. It can't happen fast enough, as far as NDs are concerned.

"As we told both HPRAC and the Minister of Health, we have some reservations about the practicality of the recommended joint college with homeopaths but NDs are pragmatic people. Right now, a joint college seems to be the quickest, most efficient means of achieving the regulation that NDs have been requesting for years so we will make every effort to make the proposed college a success."

A copy of the OAND submission to HPRAC and collateral materials can be found at www.oand.org.

A province-wide public opinion poll conducted by Innovative Research Group between March 17th and 23rd suggests that Ontarians are ready and willing to use healthcare services offered by Naturopathic Doctors:

- 72% of respondents say they are likely to use an ND's physical medicine services; - 59% are likely to use clinical nutrition services; - 53% are likely to use prevention and lifestyle counseling; and - 50% are likely to use herbal medicines.

In addition, 6-in-10 respondents (62%) say that licensed NDs should have the right to call themselves "Doctor."

Eight-in-10 Ontarians say it is very important to public safety to allow only licensed and regulated Naturopathic Doctors (those who have graduated from an accredited institution, who have passed licensing exams and who remain in good standing with the regulatory board) to call themselves a Naturopathic Doctor.

"We are anxious to see the actual legislation that evolves from the HPRAC recommendation," Ms. Baron said. "We are optimistic that it will address all the public's and our members' concerns."

The full polling questionnaire and response data can be found at www.oand.org.

The Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors represents the interests of approximately 80% of Ontario's 699 registered Naturopathic Doctors. It is a founding member of the Coalition for Naturopathic Medicine. The Coalition for Naturopathic Medicine was established in August 2005 as an alliance of OAND, the Board of Directors of Drugless Therapy - Naturopathy, Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors and the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, to advocate for more effective regulation to govern Naturopathic Medicine in Ontario.

The study was conducted by Innovative Research Group (www.innovativeresearch.ca) through random digit dialing telephone interviews among a representative sample of 602 English speaking Ontarians, 18 years of age or older. The interviews were conducted between March 17th and March 23rd, 2006. Up to eight call-backs were made in the case of non-response. Using data from Statistics Canada, the results were weighted according to region, age and gender to ensure a sample representative of the entire Ontario adult population. In the end, the maximum margin of error obtained for a sample of 602 respondents is (+/-) 4.0%, 19 times out of 20.

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