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Homeopathy 2009; 98(01): 11-16
DOI: 10.1016/j.homp.2008.11.008
Original Paper
Copyright © The Faculty of Homeopathy 2008

Evaluation of the quality of life after individualized homeopathic treatment for seasonal allergic rhinitis. A prospective, open, non-comparative study

Maria Goossens
1   Department of General Practice, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, ACHG-KULeuven, Kapucijnenvoer 33, Blok J, bus 7001, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
,
Gert Laekeman
2   Pharmacology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
,
Bert Aertgeerts
1   Department of General Practice, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, ACHG-KULeuven, Kapucijnenvoer 33, Blok J, bus 7001, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
,
Frank Buntinx
1   Department of General Practice, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, ACHG-KULeuven, Kapucijnenvoer 33, Blok J, bus 7001, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
3   Universiteit Maastricht, The Netherlands
,
The ARCH study group: Marc Dandois, Leon Scheepers, Jean-Louis Smout, Michel van Wassenhoven, Jo Linmans, Erwin Doeuvre › Author Affiliations
Subject Editor:
Further Information

Publication History

Received20 January 2008
revised15 October 2008

accepted18 November 2008

Publication Date:
20 December 2017 (online)

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Background: Quality of life (QoL) is an important outcome measure in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), a condition for which homeopathy is frequently used.

Objective The assessment of the effect of homeopathic medical prescriptions with the Rhino-conjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) in the treatment of SAR.

Methods: A prospective, open, non-comparative study was conducted in Belgium. Patients aged between 14 and 68 years with SAR were treated by one of seven homeopathic physicians. Patients completed the RQLQ at baseline and again after three and four weeks of homeopathic treatment.

Results: Seventy-four patients were screened, of whom 46 met the study eligibility criteria (average age 36 years, 70% female). The mean RQLQ score at baseline was 3.40 (±.98). After three and four weeks of homeopathic treatment it had fallen to 1.97 (±1.32) (P = 0.0001), and 1.6 (±1.28) (P = 0.0001), respectively.

Conclusions: After homeopathic treatment, patients reported an alleviation of their symptoms of allergic rhinitis as reported in the RQLQ. A formal Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT) is indicated.

Keywords

homeopathy - allergic rhinitis - quality of life
 

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