Abstract
M.Tech. (Homoeopathy)
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) describes a group of natural healthcare
interventions that may be employed in conjunction with (Complementary) or instead of
(Alternative) conventional medical treatments (Barnes and Bloom, 2008).The prevalence of
CAM use in industrialised countries has shown a significant increase in recent decades, amongst
consumers and professionals alike, and is being utilised by up to 50% of adults in developed
communities (Astin et al., 1998).
The general public are starting to take their health and well-being into their own hands by
investing in CAM products and consulting with various CAM practitioners. This study is
designed to gain valuable insight into the subjective experience of typical CAM users in
Johannesburg. Such information may raise awareness within the current CAM climate and may
be of value in formulating future marketing and educational strategies for the various CAM
professions.
Several global surveys have been done to determine patterns and prevalence of CAM use. In
South Africa, such studies have been conducted in Cape Town (Du Plessis and Pellow, 2013) and
in Durban (Singh et al., 2004).
The Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA) is the regulatory body of
CAM in South Africa. It currently regulates and registers 11 CAM professions, namely
Homoeopathy, Chiropractic, Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Unani-Tibb, Osteopathy,
Naturopathy, Phytotherapy, Therapeutic Aromatherapy, Therapeutic Massage and Therapeutic
Reflexology. Most CAM products are freely available in various retail outlets.
The aim of this study is to determine the attitudes and perceptions of Complementary and
Alternative Medicine users in Johannesburg health shops. This will be evaluated by means of a
questionnaire survey.