Over sixty percent of GPs in Australia want further training in complementary therapies, according to a report by the Department of Public Health, University of Western Australia.

The report set out to identify the knowledge, attitudes and referral patterns of general practitioners (GPs) toward 10 specific complementary therapies. A descriptive cross-sectional postal survey, conducted between July 1998 and August 1998 inclusive was used to obtain data from a random selection of 200 male and 200 female Western Australian GPs residing in Perth and listed in the Australian Medical Association database file of registered GPs.

282 ( 74.8 percent) of the GPs replied to the survey. Over 90 percent of the GPs reported having been approached by more than 30 patients seeking their advice about complementary therapies in the past nine months. The majority of those patients were women, over the age of 35 years. The ten complementary therapies listed in the questionnaire were: acupuncture, hypnosis, meditation, spinal manipulation, yoga, homeopathy, herbal medicine, naturopathy, massage and aromatherapy.

Just under half (132) of the GPs had undertaken studies in at least one of the listed complementary therapies, with over 60 percent reporting a wish for further training. Overall, 67.8 percent (191) of all GPs reported they were in favour of GP referrals to complementary therapists. However, 56.1 percent (158) were against complementary therapies being included in rebates for private health insurance. Overall, 75.0 percent (211) of GPs surveyed had already formally referred a patient to one or more of the listed therapies, the most frequent of these being acupuncture, massage, meditation, hypnosis and spinal manipulation as a part of their overall medical treatment.

The report concluded that Perth GPs have a high level of interest in complementary therapies. Government regulation and registration of complementary therapies is seen by GPs as important in order to ensure professional standards of practice. Given the high level of interest, provision of undergraduate and postgraduate education in complementary therapies could be considered. In addition, the development of clinical guidelines would be of benefit.