OBJECTIVE: To compare the profiles of people visiting only a general practitioner (GP), those visiting only a practitioner of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and those visiting both (GP&CAM). DESIGN: A comparative total population health survey in central Norway (HUNT 2). SUBJECTS: A total of 54,448 persons 20 years of age and over who answered questions about their use of health services during the previous 12 months. VARIABLES: Sociodemographic characteristics, self-perceived health, subjective health complaints, and a variety of common diseases. RESULTS: Some 34,854 (64.0%) of those who answered the health service use question had visited only a GP, 837 (1.5%) only a CAM practitioner, and 4563 (8.4%) both during the last 12 months. The likelihood of being a CAM-only user as compared to a GP-only user was significantly increased (p