Use of Complementary and Alternative Health Care for Prevention and Health Promotion: Analysis of NHIS Data

Purpose: Currently, Americans receive only half the preventive services recommended. The purpose of this study was to make a preliminary assessment of the contributions of the most frequently used U.S. CAM providers to chronic disease prevention, health promotion and wellness, using National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data. Methods: Secondary analysis of the NHIS 2007 Adult Alternative Medicine data set. National population estimates (weighted frequencies) were generated using the NHIS survey weights. Conditions for which respondents sought care were categorized as "chronic disease management," "disease prevention," and "health promotion." A separate survey question asked respondents about use of CAM for "general wellness or general disease prevention." Results: The most commonly used provider-based CAM practices within the past 12 months were chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation (C/OM; 8.4%), massage (6.1%) and acupuncture (1.4%). Energy healing, homeopathy, naturopathy, hypnosis and Ayurveda were each used by ≤ 0.5% of respondents. All CAM therapies were used for chronic disease management, led by C/OM (71.6%), massage (30.6%) and acupuncture (45.1%). All the practices showed very little use for specific disease prevention or health promotion, as indicated by the conditions for which they sought care. However, substantial proportions of respondents reported use of these practices for general wellness and disease prevention°ĒC/OM, 44.6%; massage 55.7%; acupuncture, 42.3%, energy healing 82.4%, homeopathy, 69.4% and naturopathy, 78.6%. Conclusions: Relatively small numbers of Americans use CAM providers, most commonly for management of chronic conditions. However, substantial proportions of users report seeking care for general wellness and disease prevention as well.