Place-Specific Explanations for the Geographic Patterns of Complementary and Alternative Practitioners: Contrasting Chiropractic, Massage, Holistic, Acupuncture, Naturopathic and Homeopathic Operations in Ontario
Stephen P. Meyer

Abstract
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) provides choice for those seeking health care and uncovering place-specific criteria that are associated with the spatial distribution of CAM practitioners is warranted and can augment research that addresses health care supply disparities over space. With the use of a negative binomial regression procedure and GIS analysis, this study identifies several place-specific criteria that are associated with CAM office frequency in Ontario communities. Some of the main predictors of CAM office frequency are: urban environments, diverse markets and closeness to other CAM operations (localization economies advantages). However, the magnitude of these general results, and the spatial distribution of the office locations in Ontario, does vary by CAM type.

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