Asthma and the influence of other chronic diseases as determinants of CAM use: Clinical and Public Health policy implications

Background: Attitudes, values and beliefs supporting the integration of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) into the dominant allopathic system of health care have become more widely accepted within the past decade. Among those with asthma CAM use is estimated between 21% and 42%. Often individuals with asthma have co-existing conditions for which they also use some form of CAM. The purpose of the study is to examine the impact of other co-morbidities on CAM use for those with asthma. Method: Cross-sectional correlational analysis of the 2002 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) examined adults with controlled (n=1111) and uncontrolled asthma (n=1216), when modified by other chronic diseases. The determinants of CAM use among asthma patients, including the presence of co-existing conditions, the reasons for using CAM and perceptions of well-being were examined using multiple logistic regression and chi-square analysis. Results: Consisting of 43.5% males, 78.6% whites, 13.76% blacks, and 7.64% other, there were no significant between-group differences among those using CAM and those not using CAM. Individuals with more severe asthma used more CAM, as did those with more co-morbidities. There were significant relationships found for other determinants of CAM use such as perception of well-being on the number of co-existing conditions, among those with asthma. Conclusions: More disease tends to mean more CAM usage. In managing chronic diseases conventional medical providers who attempt to integrate the use of complementary and alternative medicine must understand the association of the determinants of CAM use in chronic disease.