[Are patients of Asian medicine active consumers?].

Abstract

Background: The hypothesis that heterodox patients are active consumers.

Objective: What are the decisional criteria that lead patients to Asian medicine? Do they want to be involved in therapeutic decision-making? Are they well informed about diverse therapeutic options?

Methods: Semistructured interviews with 26 patients using Ayurveda or acupuncture.

Results: Active consumerism among the patients is limited to processes before the beginning of the treatment. They collect little information about the concepts of Asian medicine. They also tend to welcome a rather paternalistic therapeutic relationship in which medical decision-making is centered around the physician.

Conclusion: As only two of the 26 interviewed patients conform to the notion of active consumerism, we argue that the majority of patients engages in practices of passive consumerism.