MJA: Easthope et al., Box 3

3: Characteristics of general practitioners who claimed for acupuncture in 1996 (Medicare Benefits Schedule item 173)

Odds ratio*	Number (%)	(95% confidence interval)	P
Sex (n=2987)
Male	2311 (77.4%)	1.70 (1.55-1.87)	<0.001
Female	676 (22.6%)	1
Age (n=2793)
25-34 years	340 (12.2%)	1.36 (1.16-1.60)	<0.001
35-44 years	937 (33.5%)	1.73 (1.52-1.98)	<0.001
45-54 years	960 (34.4%)	1.74 (1.53-1.98)	<0.001
55-64 years	384 (13.7%)	1.28 (1.09-1.49)	0.0023
>65 years	172 (6.2%)	1
Socioeconomic disadvantage index of doctor's main practice (n=2997)
High socioeconomic disadvantage
1	61 (2.0%)	1.14 (0.85-1.55)	0.37
2	143 (4.8%)	1.25 (1.02-1.55)	0.034
3	198 (6.6%)	1.17 (0.97-1.41)	0.10
4	324 (10.8%)	1.30 (1.11-1.53)	0.0014
5	454 (15.1%)	1.16 (1.00-1.35)	0.046
6	411 (13.7%)	1
7	428 (14.3%)	1.25 (1.07-1.45)	0.0040
8	321 (10.7%)	1.09 (0.92-1.27)	0.31
9	285 (9.5%)	1.32 (1.12-1.56)	0.0011
10	191 (6.4%)	1.08 (0.89-1.30)	0.44
11	116 (3.9%)	1.06 (0.85-1.33)	0.61
12	65 (2.2%)	0.92 (0.69-1.21)	0.54
Low socioeconomic disadvantage
Place of initial medical qualification (n=2997)
Overseas	943 (31.5%)	1.59 (1.45-1.74)	<0.001
Australia	2054 (68.5%)	1
Health Insurance Commission classification of doctors (n=2939)
Non-vocational	294 (10.0%)	0.52 (0.46-0.60)	<0.001
Vocational	2645 (90.0%)	1

*Multiple logistic regression estimates. Odds ratios adjusted for doctors' sex, age, socioeconomic disadvantage index scores, place of qualification and Health Insurance Commission classification (model

², 450.166; df, 18; P<0.001).

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