Time To Talk: An Educational Campaign To Encourage Provider/Patient Communications About Complementary and Alternative Medicine

The 2007 CDC National Health Interview Survey found that 38% of American adults use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), with people ages 50-59 being the highest users. Communication between consumers and health care providers about CAM is vital to ensuring safe, integrated health care.

In 2006, AARP and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) at the National Institutes of Health conducted a telephone survey of 1,559 people aged 50+ to understand communication between patients and physicians regarding CAM. More than two-thirds of CAM users do not discuss CAM with their doctor.

NCCAM developed Time to Talk, an educational campaign targeting consumers age 50+ and health care providers. A provider toolkit includes patient wallet cards to record medications and supplements and fact sheets for providers and patients.

In 2009, NCCAM assessed the materials: • Patient fact sheet--93% found it easy to understand, 85% found it useful, and 97% said, after reading it, they are more likely to discuss CAM with their providers. • Patient wallet card--94% found it easy to understand and 83% said they would use it. • Provider fact sheet--85% of nurse practitioners and 71% of MDs found it helpful; 83% of NPs and 65% of MDs were encouraged to bring up CAM use • Most health care providers said they would incorporate TTT materials in their practice (95% of NPs, and 85% of MDs)

Discussion of CAM use is vital to ensuring safe, coordinated care. NCCAM's campaign is addressing the communications gap.