"They're made in factories and not by witches on the allotment": a qualitative study of midlife women in the united kingdom, exploring their approaches to complementary and alternative medicines

Health Care Women Int. 2011 Dec;32(12):1046-67. doi: 10.1080/07399332.2011.603864.

Abstract

This article explores midlife women's experiences and approaches related to complementary and alternative therapies (CAMS). Ninety-six midlife women were asked about their use of CAMs as part of their overall approach to midlife health. Qualitative thematic analysis was combined with a case-based approach. Women set their experience of CAMs in the context of conventional medicine taking and discussed their safety and different uses. For treatments requiring direct contact with a practitioner, accessibility and quality of the relationship were crucial. Four overall approaches could be discerned (political-critical, pragmatic, careful and wellbeing-oriented) that dynamically interacted with women's experiences.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attitude to Health*
  • Complementary Therapies / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Holistic Health
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Patient Education as Topic*
  • Patient Satisfaction / statistics & numerical data
  • Quality of Life*
  • Self Concept
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United Kingdom
  • Women's Health Services / organization & administration
  • Women's Health*