Dr Patrick Store, President of the Royal College of General Practitioners, concurs that orthodox doctors could learn a lot about beside manner and advising patients on preventative health from alternative therapists.
According to the Australian Journal of Public Health, 18% of patients visiting alternative therapists do so because they suffer from musculo-skeletal complaints; 12% suffer from digestive problems, which is only 1% more than those suffering from emotional problems. Those suffering from respiratory complaints represent 7% of their patients, and candida sufferers represent an equal percentage. Headache sufferers and those complaining of general ill health represent 6% and 5% of patients respectively, and a further 4% see therapists for general health maintenance.
The survey suggested that complementary medicine is probably a better term than alternative medicine. Alternative medicine appears to be an adjunct, sought in times of disenchantment when conventional medicine seems not to offer the answer.
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Question Focus: The diagram shows a percentage of patients visiting alternative therapists for a specific complaint. We need to label which complaint matches that percentage.
Correct Answer: E
Why this is correct: The diagram position refers to the group just after musculo-skeletal complaints. The passage clearly says 12% suffer from digestive problems, so the answer here is digestive problems.
Passage Reference: According to the Australian Journal of Public Health, 18% of patients visiting alternative therapists do so because they suffer from musculo-skeletal complaints; 12% suffer from digestive problems, which is only 1% more than those suffering from emotional problems.
Common Mistake: Some students choose emotional problems because it appears very close in the sentence. But the passage says digestive problems are 1% more than emotional problems, so mixing them up is a paraphrase trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: '12% suffer from digestive problems' = Diagram: 'patients with ___'
Tips: Follow the order of percentages in the passage. Diagram labels usually move down the page in the same order.
Key Vocabulary:
- digestive = related to stomach and intestines
- suffer = have an illness or problem
Question Focus: This diagram label asks which complaint affects almost the same number of patients as digestive problems.
Correct Answer: A
Passage Reference: According to the Australian Journal of Public Health, 18% of patients visiting alternative therapists do so because they suffer from musculo-skeletal complaints; 12% suffer from digestive problems, which is only 1% more than those suffering from emotional problems.
Why this is correct: The passage explains that digestive problems are only 1% more than emotional problems. That tells us the next category is emotional problems, which fits this diagram position.
Common Mistake: Students sometimes choose general health because it sounds broad and common. But general health appears later and for a different reason. This is a wrong section trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'those suffering from emotional problems' = Diagram: 'patients with ___'
Tips: When you see comparison language like 'more than', check which item comes before and after.
Key Vocabulary:
- emotional = related to feelings
- percentage = part of 100
Question Focus: The diagram now moves to smaller percentages of patients and asks for the specific complaint.
Correct Answer: D
Passage Reference: Headache sufferers and those complaining of general ill health represent 6% and 5% of patients respectively,
Why this is correct: The passage clearly states Headache sufferers represent 6% of patients. This matches the diagram position, so the correct label is headache.
Common Mistake: Some students choose general ill health because it sounds similar and is mentioned nearby. But that group is 5%, not 6%. This is a partial truth trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'Headache sufferers represent 6%' = Diagram: 'patients with ___'
Tips: Match exact numbers like 6% or 5%. Small differences matter in diagram questions.
Key Vocabulary:
- represent = make up
- sufferer = a person who has a problem
Question Focus: This final diagram label asks for the complaint with a slightly lower percentage than headaches.
Correct Answer: C
Passage Reference: Headache sufferers and those complaining of general ill health represent 6% and 5% of patients respectively,
Why this is correct: After headaches at 6%, the passage says general ill health represent 5% of patients. That matches this last diagram position, so the answer is general ill health.
Common Mistake: Students sometimes choose general health because the words look similar. But general health refers to maintenance, not illness. This is a paraphrase trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'general ill health represent 5%' = Diagram: 'patients with ___'
Tips: Be careful with similar phrases. Always check if the passage talks about illness or maintenance.
Key Vocabulary:
- ill health = poor health
- respectively = in the same order
General Tips:
- Diagram questions follow passage order. Read from top to bottom and match in sequence.
- Underline percentages and nouns in the passage before looking at the diagram.
- Similar words are a common trap. Check the exact meaning, not just the shape of the word.
- Use numbers as anchors. Percentages make it easier to match labels accurately.
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