Variability in behavior and attitudes among holistic physicians
Abstract While the term holistic medicine is increasingly used, its meaning remains unclear. This study assesses variations in attitudes, backgrounds and behavior among 58 physicians who attended a holistic medical conference in 1983. In terms of sociodemographic characteristics, the respondents are similar to other physicians. Self perceptions of being a “holistic physician”, the number and type of holistic techniques used in practice, consultations with non physician healers, and changes in style of relating to patients varied considerably among the group. To a fair degree these dimensions of holistic practice are independent of each other. Sociodemographic characteristics and motivations for involvement in holistic medicine are also generally unrelated to holistic behavior. These findings raise questions regarding the utility of “holistic medicine” as a category useful to policymakers in describing physicians.