Complementary and alternative medicine use among veterans with chronic noncancer pain

Abstract

Abstract-We describe prior use and willingness to try complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among 401 veterans experiencing chronic noncancer pain and explore differences between CAM users and nonusers. Participants in a randomized controlled trial of a collaborative intervention for chronic pain from five Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) primary care clinics self-reported prior use and willingness to try chiropractic care, massage therapy, herbal medicines, and acupuncture. Prior CAM users were compared with nonusers on demographic characteristics, pain-related clinical characteristics, disease burden, and treatment satisfaction. A majority of veterans (n = 327, 82%) reported prior use of at least one CAM modality, and nearly all (n = 399, 99%) were willing to try CAM treatment for pain. Chiropractic care was the least preferred option, whereas massage therapy was the most preferred (75% and 96%, respectively). CAM users were less likely to have service-connection disabilities (54% vs 68%; chi square = 4.64, p = 0.03) and reported having spent a larger percentage of their lives in pain (26% vs 20%; Z = 1.40, p = 0.04) than nonusers. We detected few differences between veterans who had tried CAM and those who had not, suggesting that CAM may have broad appeal among veterans with chronic pain. Implications for VA policy and practice and for clinicians treating veterans with chronic pain are discussed.Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT00129480, "Improving the Treatment of Chronic Pain in Primary Care"; http://www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Determining Attitudes Toward Acupuncture: A Focus on Older U.S. Veterans

“…About 20% of the study's population reported using acupuncture, which is similar to other studies that have reported similar rates ranging from 19% to 21.2%. 26,31 Within the current population, veterans who are older, white, and Christian and who have at least one chronic physical condition, at least one chronic mental condition, and higher rates of confidence that they can use non-medicationbased treatments to support their health had more positive attitudes toward acupuncture. These findings are consistent with previous literature.…”

A Study on Research for Utilization Acupuncture Treatment in Military Medicine

“…군진의학에서 침치료를 활용한 연구는 2000년 14) 부터 발간되기 시작하여 2003년 13) , 2006년 28) , 2009년 16) , 2011년 29) 에 각 1편씩 발표되었고 2013년부터 연구 수가 증가하여 2016년 3월까지 13편 [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]30,31) 이 발표되었다 (Fig. 2).…”

“…임상연구의 연구 형태를 분석했을 때 무작위 대조군 연구 가 8편 [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] 으로 제일 많았고, 증례 보고 논문이 3편 13,24,25) , 후향적 코호트 연구 26,27) , 교차 단면연구 28,29) 가 각 2편, 전 후 연구 14) , 비무작위 대조군 연구 30) , 예비연구 31) 가 1편이…”

“…임상 논문의 연구 목적별 분류를 해보면 외상 후 스트 레스 증후군 17,20,21,25) , 치료를 위해 침술을 선택하는 이유 에 관한 연구 [27][28][29]31) 가 각 4편, 전쟁 경험과 관련된 통증 논문이 3편 23,26,30) , 상기도 감염 24) , 일시적 소음성 난청 14) , 물질 중독 19) , 근막동통 증후군 16) , 인후통 22) , 금연 18) , 신경…”

“…효과에 대해 긍정적, 효과적으로 평가한 논문이 11 편 16,17,[19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]30) , 주제와 관련이 없는 논문(치료를 위해 침술 을 선택하는 이유에 대한 연구)이 4편 [27][28][29]31) , 효과 없음으 로 평가한 논문이 2편 14,18) , 효과에 대해 언급하지 않은 논 문이 1편 13) 이었다 (Fig. 3).…”