Explain the factors that affect access to complementary therapies

Factors that could affect access to complementary therapies could stem from many sources. These could consist of physical barriers, geographical barriers, socio-economical barriers, cultural barriers, educational barriers and the barriers that may be face by referral systems.

Physical Barriers includes whether or not a service user can access the building in which the CAM therapy is to take place. For example the individual may face mobility issues such as being in a wheelchair, or other health problems such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) which may result in breathlessness. Geographical barriers would include aspects of an individual’s life associated with where they live which may determine how easy it is to get to and from places in which complementary therapies take place. Various transport options may have to be considered, does the individual drive, or is there reliable access to public transport? Socio-economical barriers arise in association with how financially secure potential service users are. Whether or not an individual can attend a complementary therapy service is dependent on how much the therapy costs, and whether it can be afforded by the individual. Cultural barriers stem from the beliefs of an individual, and whether a particular type of practice is acceptable in relation to their religion or culture, but may also be a result of perceived efficacy of the therapies in question. Educational barriers are associated with how possible it is to find information relating to the CAM therapies that are sought for, for potential use by the individual. It also includes finding out what is seen to work best to ad particular conditions, what doesn’t necessarily work effectively, how it works and what it aims to achieve. Referral system barriers tend to be highly