OBJECTIVES: Pain can place a huge economic burden on patients and healthcare systems. Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) therapies are often used to treat pain. CAM has largely been ignored by health economists as an area of research. The primary aim of the study was to determine the usage, outcomes and cost of CAM in pain management in South African consumers.

METHODS: A consumer survey was conducted at shopping centres in South Africa in 2017. A total of 219 consumers completed the survey. Convenience sampling was used. Microsoft Excel was used to analyse data, and basic descriptive statistics were calculated.

RESULTS: Most of the 219 respondents were female (57.1%) and between 18 and 29 years old (40.6%). The most common pain conditions were lower back pain (37.0% of consumers), followed by abdominal pain (26.0%) and upper back pain (18.7%). The most common CAM therapies used for pain were vitamin and mineral supplements (34.2% of consumers), massage therapy (30.6%), herbal medicine (29.7%), prayer therapy (25.6%) and relaxation (15.1%). Seventy-two percent of consumers indicated that it was worthwhile to use CAM therapies for pain before consulting a medical practitioner. More than half (55.68%) of consumers said they did not inform their medical practitioners about the CAM therapies they are using. Of the 219 consumers, only 12.73% indicated that their medical insurance scheme covers the cost of a CAM practitioner consultation, and only 14.63% that their medical insurance scheme covers CAM products sold by a pharmacy.

CONCLUSIONS: Most consumers who experienced pain did use a CAM therapy and considered it to be of value. Although pharmacies are selling CAM products for pain, medical insurance schemes are not readily paying for CAM practitioner consultations or CAM products. Since most therapies are out-of-pocket expenses, a follow-up study should be conducted to quantify these expenses.