@conference{
author = "Ninković, Milica and Knežević, Goran and Purić, Danka and Opačić, Goran and Lazarević, Ljiljana B. and Petrović, Marija B. and Teovanović, Predrag and Stanković, Sanda and Zupan, Zorana and Žeželj, Iris Lav",
year = "2024",
abstract = "Although it lacks a solid evidence base, people use traditional, complementary, and alternative
medicine (TCAM), and they do so in three distinct ways: 1) for preventive purposes, 2)
complementarily to prescribed therapy, and 3) as an alternative to it. While preventive use of
TCAM is of least concern, these treatments can sometimes have detrimental interactions with
conventional when used as complementary, and especially as an alternative to treatment. Using
TCAM instead of conventional treatments can delay efficient cure and decrease the chance of
recovery. Previous studies have indicated that the use of TCAM is rooted in the “irrational
mindset” (IM) - a composite of irrational beliefs and cognitive biases. However, different ways
of using TCAM may not be equally irrational. Here, we explored whether the IM predicts the
three ways of TCAM use. Participants from a nationally representative Serbian sample (N =
1003) filled in a set of the IM measures: Medical conspiracy theories (ɑ = .83), Superstition (ɑ
= .70), Magical beliefs about health (ɑ = .77), Extrasensory beliefs (ɑ = .77), and Naturalness
bias (single item). They also indicated how they typically used different domains of TCAM
practices (preventively, complementarily, alternatively, or none). We coded their answers “1”
if they indicated that they used a domain in a particular way and with “0” otherwise.
We tested the explanatory power of IM variables for the ways of TCAM use within three binary
logistic regression models, one for each way of use. The irrational mindset was the most
predictive for the alternative use of TCAM (χ2(5) = 40.56, p < .001; Nagelkerke R2 = .07).
Those endorsing medical conspiracy theories (OR = 1.48, p = .001) and extrasensory
perception beliefs (OR = 1.41, p = .009) were more likely to turn to TCAM alternative to the
prescribed therapy. On the other hand, the predictive power of IM was quite weak for
preventive (χ2(5) = 14.39, p = .013; Nagelkerke R2 = .02) and complementary use (χ2(5) =
18.06, p = .003; Nagelkerke R2 = .02) suggesting these behaviors not to be irrational.
Whilst abandoning treatment and turning to TCAM is the rarest scenario (17%), it is the most
dangerous one, particularly in case of life-threatening illnesses. This is why health
communication interventions must cut deeper and also address its underlying irrational beliefs:
endorsing unfounded extrasensory abilities and dismissing official medicine due to so-called
“Big pharma conspiracies”.",
publisher = "Institute of Psychology & Laboratory for Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade",
journal = "Book of Apstacts of the XXX Scientific Conference Empirical Studies in Psychology",
title = "Turning away from conventional medicine to traditional, complementary and alternative medical treatments - an irrational choice",
pages = "94-94",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_reff_6479"
}
