Table 3 Other factors associated with referral to a naturopath by rural and regional GPs in New South Wales, Australia (n = 585)

Level of knowledge

Excellent

13.6

3.3

<0.001

Very Good

15.6

6.0

Satisfactory

39.6

28.8

Poor

31.2

49.4

Very Poor

0.0

12.5

Patients asked about CAM

<10%

25.3

39.0

<0.001

11-25%

29.9

46.9

26-50%

11.7

7.0

>50%

33.1

7.2

Personal use

Regularly

40.3

3.0

<0.001

Often

17.5

17.9

Once/Rarely

21.4

34.1

Never, but would consider

14.9

12.3

Never, and would not consider

5.8

31.1

Access to medical specialists is a problem

Yes

5.8

1.6

0.010

No

94.2

98.4

Patient request for referral

Yes

59.7

55.2

0.332

No

40.3

44.8

Lack of other options

Yes

20.1

8.1

<0.001

No

79.9

91.9

Positive results previously

Yes

75.3

39.0

<0.001

No

24.7

61.0

Information from CAM practitioner?

Yes

37.0

13.2

<0.001

No

63.0

86.8

Information from patients?

Yes

46.1

47.6

0.755

No

53.9

52.4

Belief in efficacy

Yes

68.8

17.4

<0.001

No

31.2

82.6

Interested in increasing CAM knowledge?

Yes

73.4

48.8

<0.001

No

26.6

51.2

Have prescribed CAM to patients

Yes

85.7

67.0

<0.001

No

14.3

33.0

Comfort level

Comfortable in general

31.8

2.6

<0.001

Only in specific circumstances

45.3

10.9

Only if I knew them in person

18.2

21.6

I would not refer

4.7

65.0