Has the Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Therapies by U.S. Adults with Chronic Disease-Related Functional Limitations Changed from 2002 to 2007?
Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online March, 2013
Has the Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Therapies by U.S. Adults with Chronic Disease-Related Functional Limitations Changed from 2002 to 2007?
This study examined changes in the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies by U.S. adults aged 18 years or older with chronic disease-related functional limitations between 2002 and 2007.
Design:
The study was a cross-sectional survey.
Setting/location:
The study was conducted in the United States.
Subjects:
The study comprised adults aged 18 years or older with chronic disease-related functional limitations.
Methods:
Data were obtained from the 2002 and 2007 U.S. National Health Interview Survey to compare the use of 22 CAM therapies (n=9313 and n=7014, respectively). Estimates were age adjusted to the year 2000 U.S. standard population.
Results:
The unadjusted and age-standardized prevalence of overall CAM use (22 therapies comparable between both survey years) was higher in 2007 than in 2002 (30.6% versus 26.9%, p<0.001 and 34.4% versus 30.6%, p<0.001, respectively). Adults with functional limitations that included changing and maintaining body position experienced a significant increase in CAM use between 2002 and 2007 (31.1%–35.0%, p<0.01). The use of deep breathing exercises was the most prevalent CAM therapy in both 2002 and 2007 and increased significantly during this period (from 17.9% to 19.9%, p<0.05). The use of meditation, massage, and yoga also increased significantly from 2002 and 2007 (11.0%–13.5%, p<0.01; 7.0%–10.9%, p<0.0001; and 5.1% to 6.6%, p<0.05, respectively), while the use of the Atkins diet decreased (2.2%– 1.4%, p<0.01).
Conclusions:
Among U.S. adults with chronic disease-related functional limitations, the overall increase in CAM use from 2002 to 2007 was significant, particularly among those with changing and maintaining body position limitations.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
EisenbergDM, DavisRB, EttnerSLet al.Trends in alternative medicine use in the United States, 1990–1997: Results of a follow-up national survey. JAMA, 1998; 280:1569–1575.
2.
EisenbergDM, KesslerRC, FosterCet al.Unconventional medicine in the United States: Prevalence, costs, and patterns of use. NEJM, 1993; 328:246–252.
3.
BarnesPM, BloomB, NahinRL. Complementary and alternative medicine use among adults and children: United States, 2007. National Health Statistics Report, 2008; 12:1–23.
4.
TindleHA, DavisRB, PhillipsRS, EisenbergDM. Trends in use of complementary and alternative medicine by US adults: 1997–2002. Altern Ther Health Med, 2005; 11:42–49.
5.
BarnesPM, Powell-GrinerE, McFannK, NahinRL. Complementary and alternative medicine use among adults: United States, 2002. Adv Data, 2004; 343:1–19.
6.
NahinRL, BarnesPM, StussmanBJ, BloomB. Costs of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and frequency of visits to CAM practitioners: United States, 2007. Natl Health Stat Report, 2009; 18:1–14.
7.
EisenbergDM, CohenMH, HrbekAet al.Credentialing complementary and alternative medical providers. Ann Intern Med, 2002; 137:965–973.
8.
WolskoPM, EisenbergDM, DavisRBet al.Insurance coverage, medical conditions, and visits to alternative medicine providers: Results of a national survey. Arch Int Med, 2002; 162:281–287.
9.
LaffertyWE, TyreePT, BellasASet al.Insurance coverage and subsequent utilization of complementary and alternative medicine providers. Am J Manag Care, 2006; 12:397–404.
10.
SteyerTE, FreedGL, LantzPM. Medicaid reimbursement for alternative therapies. Altern Ther Health Med, 2002; 8:84–88.
11.
BarzanskyB, EtzelSI. Educational programs in US medical schools, 2002–2003. JAMA, 2003; 290:1190–1196.
12.
VerhoefM, Brundin-MatherR, JonesAet al.Complementary and alternative medicine in undergraduate medical education. Associate deans' perspectives. Can Fam Physician, 2004; 50:847–849, 853–845.
13.
MaizesV, SilvermanH, LebensohnPet al.The integrative family medicine program: An innovation in residency education. Acad Med, 2006; 81:583–589.
14.
ShiflettSC. Overview of complementary therapies in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am, 1999; 10:521–529, vii.
15.
GageH, StoreyL, McDowellCet al.Integrated care: Utilisation of complementary and alternative medicine within a conventional cancer treatment centre. Complement Ther Med, 2009; 17:84–91.
16.
ArthurHM, PattersonC, StoneJA. The role of complementary and alternative therapies in cardiac rehabilitation: A systematic evaluation. Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil, 2006; 13:3–9.
17.
ChouR, HuffmanLH. Nonpharmacologic therapies for acute and chronic low back pain: A review of the evidence for an American Pain Society/American College of Physicians clinical practice guideline. Ann Intern Med, 2007; 147:492–504.
18.
ChouR, QaseemA, SnowVet al.Diagnosis and treatment of low back pain: A joint clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society. Ann Intern Med, 2007; 147:478–491.
19.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the United States. Washington, DC: US Department of Health and Human Services, 2008.
20.
HumpelN, JonesSC. Gaining insight into the what, why and where of complementary and alternative medicine use by cancer patients and survivors. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl), 2006; 15:362–368.
21.
ChevarleyFM, ThierryJM, GillCJet al.Health, preventive health care, and health care access among women with disabilities in the 1994–1995 National Health Interview Survey, Supplement on Disability. Womens Health Issues, 2006; 16:297–312.
22.
LivermoreG, StapletonDC, O'TooleM. Health care costs are a key driver of growth in federal and state assistance to working-age people with disabilities. Health Aff (Millwood), 2011; 30:1664–1672.
23.
OkoroCA, ZhaoG, LiC, BalluzLS. Use of complementary and alternative medicine among US adults with and without functional limitation. Disabil Rehabil, 2012; 34:128–135.
24.
SaydahSH, EberhardtMS. Use of complementary and alternative medicine among adults with chronic diseases: United States 2002. J Altern Complement Med, 2006; 12:805–812.
25.
KraussHH, GodfreyC, KirkJ, EisenbergDM. Alternative health care: Its use by individuals with physical disabilities. Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 1998; 79:1440–1447.
26.
CarlsonMJ, KrahnG. Use of complementary and alternative medicine practitioners by people with physical disabilities: Estimates from a National US Survey. Disabil Rehabil, 2006; 28:505–513.
27.
OkoroCA, ZhaoG, LiC, BalluzLS. Use of complementary and alternative medicine among USA adults with functional limitations: For treatment or general use?Complement Ther Med, 2011; 19:208–215.
28.
QuandtSA, ChenH, GrzywaczJGet al.Use of complementary and alternative medicine by persons with arthritis: Results of the National Health Interview Survey. Arthritis Rheum, 2005; 53:748–755.
29.
World Health Organization. International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF)Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization, 2001.
30.
Centers for Disease Control Prevention. National Health Interview Survey. About the National Health Interview Survey. www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/about_nhis.htm. 2012 January 6.
31.
Centers for Disease Control Prevention. National Health Interview Survey. Methods. www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/methods.htm. 2012 January 6.
32.
Centers for Disease Control Prevention. National Health Interview Survey. Questionnaires, datasets, and related documentation 1997 to the present. www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/quest_data_related_1997_forward.htm. 2012 January 6.
33.
HendershotGE. Mobility limitations and complementary and alternative medicine: Are people with disabilities more likely to pray?Am J Public Health, 2003; 93:1079–1080.
34.
GrzywaczJG, SuerkenCK, QuandtSAet al.Older adults' use of complementary and alternative medicine for mental health: Findings from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey. J Altern Complement Med, 2006; 12:467–473.
35.
WainapelSF, ThomasAD, KahanBS. Use of alternative therapies by rehabilitation outpatients. Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 1998; 79:1003–1005.
36.
DengGE, FrenkelM, CohenLet al.Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for integrative oncology: Complementary therapies and botanicals. J Soc Integr Oncol, 2009; 7:85–120.
37.
CassilethBR, DengGE, GomezJEet al.Complementary therapies and integrative oncology in lung cancer: ACCP evidence-based clinical practice guidelines, 2nd ed. Chest, 2007; 132:340S–354S.
38.
Agency for Healthcare Research Quality. National Guideline Clearinghouse. Guideline Summary. Management of fibromyalgia syndrome in adults. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2009. www.guideline.gov/content.aspx?id=14869&search=fibromyalgia. 2012 January 6.
