Utilización de medicamentos homeopáticos en una consulta urbana de atención primaria

Objective

To know the frequency of use of homeopathic treatments, the kind of disease for which they are prescribed and the clinical outcome, of the patients treated in a primary care (PC) setting.

Methodology

Observational retrospective study of the medical records of an urban outpatient clinic.

Population

Over 18 year old users of a general practice consultation unit. The sample was chosen by simple randomization.

Variables

Use of homeopathic medicines, time frame (acute or chronic), treated disease, prescribed treatment and clinical outcome.

Statistical analysis

The mean ± standard deviation of the quantitative variables and the percentages of the qualitative ones were calculated, and the prevalence of use of homeopathy was estimated with a 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results

A total of 142 medical records were included. A 63.4% of the patients had used homeopathy at some time (95% CI, 55.4-71.4). No statistical differences were observed regarding gender and age. The 55.6% of the patients were treated for chronic conditions. Exclusively homeopathic treatment was the most frequent kind of prescription (46.7%). Most frequently treated pathologies were: locomotor, respiratory, psychic, vascular and cutaneous. The clinical outcome was favorable in 57.8% of these patients. None of the patients treated with homeopathy declared adverse reactions.

Conclusion

The use of homeopathy was frequent in a PC setting (63% of the patients), also with chronic diseases. Prospective multicentric studies should be performed in order to confirm these results.