Association Between Use of Unconventional Therapies and Conventional Medical Services

Abstract
Interest in unconventional therapies in both the scientific literature and the popular press has increased exponentially during the last decade.1 This growth has spurred a need both for scientific trials of specific treatments and health services research examining patterns and correlates of these services in the "real world."2 From both a clinical and health policy perspective, one of the most salient issues is the degree to which use of unconventional therapies is associated with patients' use of mainstream medical treatment.3,4