Table 3.
Sources of knowledge or information patients share with naturopathic practitioners
| Knowledge or information source | Frequency patients share knowledge or information with naturopathic practitioners (n = 371)a | Naturopathic practitioner perceived importance of patient-provided knowledge and information sources (n = 365)b |
|---|---|---|
| Mean (SD) | Mean (SD) | |
| Perspective of living with their condition | 1.65 (0.76) | 1.40 (0.63) |
| Personal health history | 1.85 (0.96) | 1.46 (0.67) |
| Family health history | 2.22 (1.04) | 1.82 (0.82) |
| Conventional medical tests and examinations | 2.30 (0.98) | 1.66 (0.70) |
| General internet sources (e.g., blogs, social media) | 2.65 (0.99) | 3.95 (0.92) |
| Other health professionals providing care to the patient | 2.95 (0.94) | 2.16 (0.77) |
| Functional examinations or tests (e.g., urine/salivary hormone tests, hair mineral analysis, stool analysis) | 3.01 (1.13) | 2.13 (0.92) |
| Informal sources (e.g., family and friends) | 3.11 (0.97) | 3.64 (1.02) |
| Broadcast media (e.g., TV, radio) | 3.48 (0.99) | 4.39 (0.84) |
| Books | 3.53 (0.85) | 2.70 (0.91) |
| Patient advocacy or support groups | 4.09 (0.77) | 3.26 (0.98) |
| Published journal articles | 4.18 (0.75) | 2.32 (0.83) |
| Government agencies | 4.20 (0.68) | 3.21 (0.97) |
| Research organisations | 4.25 (0.75) | 2.50 (0.87) |
aFrequency scale: 1 = Always, 5 = Never
bImportance scale: 1 = Extremely Important, 5 = Not at all important