227047 Use of complementary and alternative medicine by U.S. adults with disabilities

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Catherine A. Okoro, PhD, MS , Office of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Guixiang Zhao, MD, PhD , Division of Behavioral Surveillance, Office of Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Lina S. Balluz, ScD, MPH , Office of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services, Centers for disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Background: While complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use by U.S. adults increased substantially since 1990, information is lacking regarding recent trends, particularly among persons with disabilities. Knowledge of changes in the prevalence of CAM use may inform interventions designed to promote health and prevent illness across the lifespan among persons with disabilities.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare CAM therapy use by adults aged ≥18 years with functional limitations in 2007 and 2002.

Methods: Data from the CAM supplements and Core components of the National Health Interview Survey were used to compare CAM therapy use among adults with functional limitations in 2007 and 2002 (n=7,014 and n=9,313, respectively). Estimates were age adjusted to the year 2000 U.S. standard population. Results: In 2007, the most commonly used CAM therapies in the past 12 months were relaxation techniques (24.8%), nonvitamin, nonmineral, natural products (22.5%), and chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation (11.9%) and massage (10.9%). CAM use generally decreased with increasing age. Other factors associated with higher rates of CAM use were female gender; white, non-Hispanic race/ethnicity; attainment of a college education; and living in the western region of the United States. Overall CAM use for the 11 therapies common to both survey years increased between 2002 and 2007 (28.4% versus 37.8%). The greatest increase in CAM use between 2002 and 2007 was seen for massage (7.0% versus 10.9%) and relaxation techniques (21.9% versus 24.8%).

Conclusions: Among U.S. adults with disabilities, the prevalence of CAM use increased from 2002 to 2007.

Learning Areas:
Epidemiology
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Assess whether the prevalence of CAM use therapies among U.S. adults with disabilities has changed from 2002 to 2007. Identify the demographic correlates of CAM use.

Keywords: Alternative Medicine/Therapies, Disability

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I conceptualized the study, completed the analysis, summarized the results, and reported the findings. I have completed several analyses regarding adults with disabilities, chronic disease, and health disparities.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4144.0: Disability survey analyses and measurement studies