Table 1 Prevalence of NPHR use (N = 307), participants’ views on NPHRs (N = 307) and GPs’ involvement in NPHR use (N = 195)

Prevalence of NPHR use and participants’ views on NPHRs (N = 307)

Number of participants (%) [95%CI]

Do you use NPHRs? (N = 306)

 Yes

197 (64.4) [59.0–69.7]

 No

109 (35.6) [30.3–41.0]

For what reason(s) do you use NPHRs? (N = 195)^a

 For preventive purposes, to stay healthy or to avoid getting ill

108 (55.3) [48.4–62.4]

 Because I can treat myself without the help of a therapist

80 (41.0) [34.1–47.9]

 As an alternative to conventional medicine^b

79^c (40.5) [33.6–47.4]

  To limit the number of pharmacological treatments

 53 (27.2) [20.9–33.4]

  To avoid side effects associated with pharmacological treatments

 43 (22.1) [16.2–27.9]

  Because I do not trust pharmacological treatments

 26 (13.3) [8.6–18.1]

  Because I do not trust conventional medicine

 15 (7.7) [4.0–11.4]

  Because an effective pharmacological treatment does not exist

6 (3.1) [0.7–5.5]

 To avoid or delay a medical consultation

75 (38.5) [31.6–45.3]

 As a complement to pharmacological treatment

45 (23.1) [17.2–29.0]

 When medical care seems too expensive for my health problem

18 (9.2) [5.2–13.3]

 Other reasons^d

7 (3.6) [1.0–6.2]

For what reason(s) do you not use NPHRs? (N = 109)^e

 I do not know of any NPHRs

53 (48.6) [39.2–58.0]

 I would rather see my GP than take NPHRs

42 (38.5) [29.4–47.7]

 I have easy access to medical care and do not need to take NPHRs

39 (35.8) [26.8–44.8]

 I prefer to use pharmacological treatments than NPHRs

17 (15.6) [8.8–22.4]

 In my opinion NPHRs are ineffective

8 (7.3) [2.4–12.2]

 Other reasons^f

19 (17.4) [10.3–24.6]

Do you think a GP’s role is to inform you about NPHRs? (N = 195)^g

Number of participants (%) [95%CI]

 Yes

136 (69.7) [63.3–76.1]

  Spontaneously on the initiative of my GP

 71 (36.4) [29.7–43.2]

  Only upon specific request from me

 63 (32.3) [25.7–38.9]

 No

59 (30.3) [23.8–36.7]

Have you talked to your GP about your use of NPHRs? (N = 194)^g

 Yes^h

65 (33.5) [26.9–40.2]

  I brought it up spontaneously

 52 (26.8) [20.6–33.0]

  My doctor brought it up spontaneously

 16 (8.2) [4.4–12.1]

  Other reasons^j

 2 (1.0) [0.0–2.5]

 Noⁱ

129 (66.5) [59.9–73.1]

  I did not feel the need to talk to my GP about it

 66 (34.2) [27.4–40.7]

  My GP did not ask me about it

 47 (24.2) [18.2–30.3]

  I consider it a personal matter

 23 (11.6) [7.3–16.4]

  I forgot to tell my GP about it

 10 (5.2) [2.0–8.3]

  I consider that this practice is not part of medical care

 8 (4.1) [1.3–6.9]

  I fear my GP’s judgement of this practice

 1 (0.5) [0.0–1.5]

  Because I am afraid of being misunderstood by my GP

 0 (0) [0.0–0.0]

  My GP raised the subject, but I did not want to talk to him about it

 0 (0) [0.0–0.0]

  Other reasons^j

 7 (3.6) [1.0–6.2]