142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Healthography of access to alternative and complementary health practices: A global comparison

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Meiling Wang, PhD MPH , BSS, Usciences, Philadelphia, PA
Background:  Access to ACHP differs in different regions globally and generates different benefits.  Access to ACHP could support prevention and intervention, choice, cost-effectiveness, etc.  Yet, the populations in the world do not have equal access to ACHP and this unequal access could lead to differential access to these benefits.   The objectives of this study are: 1. provide a healthography of access to the ACHP in different regions in the world; 2.  analyze/compare the benefits from this ACHP healthography for public health.

Method:  This project uses a meta-analysis and case study approach to compare access to ACHP in the world: I. The types of ACHP available and the usage; II, the benefits for public health from this ACHP healthography. 

Results:  The global populations have differential access to ACHP (herbals, energy-healing etc.); 2.  the use of ACHP results from the needs, demands, and cultural norms; 3.  ACHP integration is determined by the systemic and policy support, insurance and reimbursement, and clinical efficacy;  4. ACHP integration could support public health goals in the US.

Conclusion:  The healthography of access to ACHP varies from country to country and from region to region.  This affects their access to the benefits of ACHP in cost-effectiveness, patient-centered choice, efficacy in prevention and intervention, flexibility, etc.   This variation is mainly determined by the systemic and policy support, especially in insurance and reimbursement, and education and training.  ACHP integration is needed for public health in the US.

Learning Areas:

Advocacy for health and health education
Diversity and culture
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Compare the access map to ACHP in different regions in the world: Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe Describe the kinds of ACHPs available in these regions Discuss their integration in the conventional biomedical systems Analyze the implications of the healthography of ACHP for public health in the US and in the rest of the world

Keyword(s): Alternative and Complementary Health, Accessibility

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I was the sole investigator for this research and I have taught this for more than 10 years.
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: 4380.0: Research in Alternative, Complementary and Integrative Medicine