Abstract
This study examines the extent of utilization of unorthodox therapies and marginal practitioners among patients with one broad category of chronic disease, rheumatic disorders. Almost all respondents (94%) had tried some unorthodox remedy or practitioner, and several had used 13 different unorthodox remedies or practitioners. There was no relationship between age, sex, race, geographic location and magnitude of usage of treatments. There was no statistically significant relationship between education and income and amount of usage, although there was some variation by income group in which unorthodox remedies were employed. Thus, this study provides evidence that some elements of folk medicine practice continue to exist among most segments of the American population and this issue deserves further research. An important role for medical sociologists is to examine disease and disease treatment from the perspectives of the lay culture, as well as that of the medical community.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1119-1125 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Social Science and Medicine |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1982 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Economics and Econometrics
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Social Psychology
- Development
- Health(social science)
Cite this
The use of unorthodox therapies and marginal practitioners. / Kronenfeld, Jennie J.; Wasner, Cody.
In: Social Science and Medicine, Vol. 16, No. 11, 1982, p. 1119-1125.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The use of unorthodox therapies and marginal practitioners
AU - Kronenfeld, Jennie J.
AU - Wasner, Cody
PY - 1982
Y1 - 1982
N2 - This study examines the extent of utilization of unorthodox therapies and marginal practitioners among patients with one broad category of chronic disease, rheumatic disorders. Almost all respondents (94%) had tried some unorthodox remedy or practitioner, and several had used 13 different unorthodox remedies or practitioners. There was no relationship between age, sex, race, geographic location and magnitude of usage of treatments. There was no statistically significant relationship between education and income and amount of usage, although there was some variation by income group in which unorthodox remedies were employed. Thus, this study provides evidence that some elements of folk medicine practice continue to exist among most segments of the American population and this issue deserves further research. An important role for medical sociologists is to examine disease and disease treatment from the perspectives of the lay culture, as well as that of the medical community.
AB - This study examines the extent of utilization of unorthodox therapies and marginal practitioners among patients with one broad category of chronic disease, rheumatic disorders. Almost all respondents (94%) had tried some unorthodox remedy or practitioner, and several had used 13 different unorthodox remedies or practitioners. There was no relationship between age, sex, race, geographic location and magnitude of usage of treatments. There was no statistically significant relationship between education and income and amount of usage, although there was some variation by income group in which unorthodox remedies were employed. Thus, this study provides evidence that some elements of folk medicine practice continue to exist among most segments of the American population and this issue deserves further research. An important role for medical sociologists is to examine disease and disease treatment from the perspectives of the lay culture, as well as that of the medical community.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0020323241&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/0277-9536(82)90114-9
DO - 10.1016/0277-9536(82)90114-9
M3 - Article
C2 - 7112162
AN - SCOPUS:0020323241
VL - 16
SP - 1119
EP - 1125
JO - Social Science and Medicine
JF - Social Science and Medicine
SN - 0277-9536
IS - 11
ER -