Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #102287

Lin Fang, PhD, LCSW, School of Social Work, Columbia University, 1255 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027, 212-379-6986 ext. 226, lf2057@columbia.edu

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has increased dramatically in recent years. Available literature has indicated that mental illnesses are heavily represented among patients seeking complementary medical care. However, a scarcity of attention has been devoted to describe and understand the use of CAM among Chinese Americans with mental health needs. This study employs a cross-sectional survey to describe the prevalence of use of CAM among the study population, to examine health, mental health and socio-cultural factors that are associated with the use of CAM and the use of conventional mental health services, including physical health status, mental health status, acculturation, stigma toward mental health, and traditional belief of mental health, to explore the relationships of the variables through a path model, and to assess the reliability, validity and cultural sensitivity of the measures employed.

Study data is collected through a self-administrated questionnaire and medical record review based on an IRB-approved protocol. A stratified random sample of 200 participants with DSM-IV diagnosis will be brawn from a community health center located in Chinatown, New York. Implications for practice, research and program development are identified and discussed following the study findings.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the prevalence of use of CAM among Chinese immigrants with mental health needs (the study population)
• Specify the relationship between CAM use and physical health status and mental health status among the study population
• List commonly used CAM modalities by the study population in general, and by DSM-IV diagnosis
• Identify socio-cultural determinants associated with the use of CAM, including demographic factors, SES, stigma, acculturation, and traditional belief of mental health
• Discuss clinical implications and service implications for serving the study population

Keywords: Alternative Medicine/Therapies, Asian Americans

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.