Alternative Therapy Use Among the Young-Old (Ages 65 to 74): An Evaluation of the MIDUS Database

Abstract

By the year 2020, 20% of the U.S. population will be age 65 years or older. From a health care perspective, there is growing concern about the aging population. Little is known about the elderly and their use of alternative therapies. This study included data from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS). Three-hundred and thirty-five participants between the ages of 65 and 74 completed the interview and mailback questionnaire. Onehundred and forty-five individuals (43.3%) reported using alternative medicine therapies during the past year. The most common types of alternative medicine utilized were as follows: spiritual practices, exercise/movement therapies, special diets, chiropractic, and meditation. Income, education, and sex of respondent were found to be predictors of alternative therapy use among this age group. Results from this study could provide conventional practitioners greater awareness of the health beliefs and practices of their young-old patients.

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Methods Among Elderly People Living in Nursing Homes

“…In studies carried out on elderly about CAM usage, CAM usage rates vary between 27.7% and 88% 8,[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] . Because different CAM methods have been investigated in studies, different results on the frequency of CAM usage might have been obtained.…”

“…In these studies, the percentage of CAM usage varies between 35.3% and 86.3% [10][11][12][13][14][15] . In studies carried out on elderly individuals, the percentage of CAM usage varies between 27.7% and 88% 8,[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] . These methods have been preferred mostly by elderly who are well-educated 3,16,19 have a high socio-economical status 19,20 , are female 17,19,27,28 , and are younger elderly 16 .…”

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in a Newly Developing Country: a Cross- Sectional Study in Qatar

“…Other important components of health self-management include financial resources, culture, and selfempowerment [7,8]. Current data suggest that most patients use CAM in addition to conventional medical treatments [1,9].…”

Reasons of using complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) among elderly Malaysians of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor states: An exploratory study

“…To be precise, elderly are always willing to search ways which improve their health and found to use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) more often than other age groups. 2,3 A study conducted in Australia showed that 60e80% of elderly consumers have declared use of at least one herbal or nutritional medicine on a regular basis. 2 According to National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is defined as a group of diverse medical and healthcare systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine.…”