Allopathic doctors divided on benefits and advantages of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)

• A new national survey of more than 700 physicians revealed that they are divided evenly on the impact of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) on U.S. health care.
• Despite their close division on the impact of CAM on U.S. health care, 64% of doctors reported that they have recommended complementary treatments to their patients, while 36% indicated they have not.
• Sixty-three percent would be willing to recommend them under some circumstances and 65% believe that the National Institutes of Health should fund research on CAM.
• The survey which probed physicians' views on controversial techniques such as acupuncture, therapeutic touch and homeopathy, was conducted by HCD Research and The Louis Finkelstein Institute for Religion and Social Studies of The Jewish Theological Seminary, during September 1-2.
• The well-known alternative and complementary therapies including acupuncture, chiropractic and massage received higher marks for their effectiveness than treatments such as aromatherapy, electromagnetic field therapies, homeopathy and naturopathy.
• "The one trait that all complementary and alternative therapies share is the fact that they are not conventionally used," noted Glenn Kessler, co-founder and managing partner, HCD Research.
• "The message here is that techniques, like acupuncture, which have made it into the mainstream, are recognized by physicians as useful complements to scientific medicine," said Dr. Alan Mittleman, Director of the Finkelstein Institute.
• HCD Research is a marketing and advertising research company headquartered in Flemington, NJ.
• For additional information on HCD Research, access the company's web site at www.hcdi.net or call HCD Research at 908-788-9393.
• Founded in 1886 as a rabbinical school, The Jewish Theological Seminary today is the academic and spiritual center of Conservative Judaism worldwide, encompassing a world-class library and five schools.
• JTS trains tomorrow's religious, educational, academic and lay leaders for the Jewish community and beyond.