Recent studies report that total visits to complementary medicine practitioners exceed the total visits to all US primary care physicians. However, there is still very little data available about the patterns of use of complementary medicine, particularly data that can be linked with the use of recommended clinical preventive services, such as age appropriate cancer screening and other exams. This information is critical to understanding the shift away from traditional medicine and towards unconventional therapies, and to identify opportunities for collaborative activities between public health professionals and complementary practitioners. The 1999 Los Angeles County Health Survey (LACHS) obtained data on the use of preventive health services, and visits to complementary practitioners including chiropractors, massage therapists, acupuncturists, herbalists, homeopathic practitioners; and among the Hispanic population, visits to Curanderos and Sobadoras. The LACHS is a population based telephone survey administered to over 8,000 Los Angeles County residents. The survey collects data on health behaviors, health status, access to health care and use of health care services, particularly preventive health services. Findings presented will profile the demographic characteristics (race, education, gender, and income) of the population that uses complementary medical practitioners and explore the relationship between the use of complementary medicine and the use of recommended clinical preventive services.
Learning Objectives: The participant in this session will be able to: 1. Describe the characteristics of people using complementary medical practitioners. 2. Identify opportunities for collaborative activities between public health professionals and complementary practitioners. 3. Analyze the relationship between use of complementary practitioners and use of clinical preventive services
Keywords: Alternative Medicine/Therapies, Clinical Prevention Services
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.