Complementary medicines are also known as traditional, natural or alternative medicines and include herbal medicines, vitamin and mineral supplements, other nutritional supplements, traditional medicines such as Ayurvedic medicines and traditional Chinese medicines and homoeopathic medicines.

• Read the Complementary Medicines Research Report for consumers
• Read the Complementary Medicines Research Report for health professionals
• Read the Review of Complementary Medicines Information Resources Summary Report

Most Australians use one or more complementary medicines regularly and spend an estimated $1.31 billion on these medicines each year. Self-prescribed vitamins, herbal medicines and mineral supplements are the most common complementary medicines used.

While the intent of using complementary medicines is to gain positive health effects, there is limited evidence of the effectiveness of many complementary medicines. While most complementary medicines are low risk, some may need to be taken with caution as they contribute to:

• allergic reactions to, or side effects from, individual complementary medicines
• interactions with prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, or other herbal products, which can result in both medicines having reduced or enhanced effects
• the delay in receiving effective supervised treatment for a serious medical condition.

Many consumers self-prescribe complementary medicines and may be unaware of the need to discuss their use with their health care providers.

With increasing consumer demand for complementary medicines and therapies, the advent of integrative medical practice and the increasing level of referrals by GPs to complementary and alternative medicine therapists, there has been an increasing integration of complementary therapies into mainstream Australian medical and pharmacy practice. However, gaps remain in the knowledge of mainstream health professionals about the benefits and side effects of complementary medicines.

This project aims to better understand the attitudes, information needs and preferences of consumers and health professionals around complementary medicines. The results of this work will underpin the development of strategies to promote the quality use of complementary medicines.

Research areas

Preliminary research

• A literature review--Complementary medicines: attitudes and information needs of consumers and healthcare professionals--presents work already undertaken on information seeking and information needs of consumers and health professionals in Australia and overseas around complementary medicines
• Reviews of calls to the NPS medicines information telephone services, Medicine Line and Therapeutic Advisory Service were completed. A summary of the reviews will be available in 2009.
• Findings about complementary medicines use from the NPS annual consumer surveys (2006, 2008) are available here.

Complementary medicine users research

A survey of 612 users of complementary medicines in Australia and in-depth interviews with 24 users were completed in August 2007. A summary of the research and the report are available here.

Complementary medicines GP and pharmacists research

A survey of 1,178 general practitioners and 388 pharmacists about their knowledge and information needs and preferences around complementary medicines was conducted in March-June 2008. A series of twelve focus groups with general practitioners and community pharmacists were conducted during July and August 2008. A summary of the research and the report are available here.

Review of complementary medicines electronic resources

A review of the quality of electronic information resources about complementary medicines has been completed. A summary of the research and the report are available here.

Future research

NPS consumer research shows that consumers also purchase complementary medicines and seek advice about them from a range of health workers including pharmacy assistants, health food store workers, naturopaths and other complementary and alternative medicine practitioners. Further research is planned to understand the information needs of these groups in order to identify strategies to promote the quality use of complementary medicines by all involved.

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