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Table 1 Baseline characteristics

From: Measuring the effects of acupuncture and homoeopathy in general practice: An uncontrolled prospective documentation approach

 

Acupuncture

Homoeopathy

Sample size

Nmax* = 5116

Nmax* = 515

Gender

53 % women

55 % women

Mean age

42 (SD 14)

30 (SD 18)

Married

71%

48%

Employed

62%

49%

Most frequent self-reported symptoms:

  

   Back pain

31%

14%

   Headache

24%

12%

   Problems with respiration

14%

9%

Saw doctors for same complaints beforehand:

75%

67%

   Of these: seen > 4 other doctors for same complaints:

21%

35%

Received acupuncture / homeopathy before+

20%

20%

Subjective reasons for seeking out this treatment+:

  

   "Paid for by insurance company"

69%

73%

   "Other treatments unsuccessful"

73%

70%

   "Wanted to try"

40%

56%

   "Side effects of other treatments"

37%

60%

  1. * depends on the question, some items showed missing data +analysed according to the baseline questionnaire (N = 4487 for acupuncture and N = 465 for homeopathy