Health behaviors and risk factors in those who use complementary and alternative medicine

Abstract

BackgroundSurveys have generally found that individuals more likely to use complementary and alternative medicine are female, live in the western United States, are likely to have a health complaint, and have a higher socioeconomic status than do nonusers. What is not known is the extent to which those who use complementary and alternative medicine also engage in positive health behaviors, such as smoking cessation or increased physical activity and/or exhibit fewer health risk factors such as obesity. This has been identified as a key research question in a recent Institute of Medicine report. In the present study we sought to determine whether the use of complementary and alternative medicine is associated with health behaviors or risk factors known to impact on health status.MethodsThe current study is a cross-sectional regression analysis using data from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey. Data were collected in-person from 31,044 adults throughout the 50 states and the District of Columbia.ResultsAfter controlling for a range of other factors, we found that engaging in leisure-time physical activity, having consumed alcohol in one's life but not being a current heavy drinker, and being a former smoker are independently associated with the use of CAM. Obese individuals are slightly less likely to use CAM than individuals with a healthy body-mass index. No significant associations were observed between receipt of an influenza vaccine and CAM use.ConclusionThose engaging in positive health behaviors and exhibiting fewer health risk factors are more likely to use CAM than those who forgo positive health behaviors or exhibit more health risk factors. The fact that users of CAM tend to pursue generally healthy lifestyles suggests that they may be open to additional recommendations toward optimizing their health.

Familial and Perceived Risk of Breast Cancer in Relation to Use of Complementary Medicine

“…Perceived risk and engaging in breast cancer screening behaviors dropped out, likely owing to correlation with variables retained in the model. Our results are consistent with previous population-based survey findings in healthy samples where CAM use correlated with general health behaviors (25) and education (9,10).…”

Determining the Attitudes and Use of Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Medicine Among Undergraduates

“…While Asians and whites typically have the highest percentages of CAM use, studies have shown variation between the two groups. Some have shown Asians as more likely users of CAM than whites, 17,18 as equally likely, 19 or as less likely. 3 In part, these differences may be attributed to the heterogeneity within Asian subgroups with regard to culture, lifestyle, and behavior.…”

Niekonwencjonalne metody terapii a zachowania zdrowotne osób dorosłych

“…Interesują się profilaktyką chorób oraz zdrowym stylem życia, co uwidacznia się poprzez częściej podejmowaną aktywność fizyczną, mniejsze spożycie alkoholu, nie palenie tytoniu czy zdrową dietę [11]. Stosowanie niekonwencjonalnych metod terapii utwierdza ich w przekonaniu, że zdrowie jest w ich własnych rękach, a jego przywrócenie lub utrzymanie leży w zakresie ich działań [12].…”

“…[3] wynika, że światopogląd albo też filozofia życiowa kobiet jest zgodna z tą, którą zawierają w sobie niekonwencjonalne metody terapii (holizm, aktywna rola w umacnianiu zdrowia, podmiotowość). Niekonwencjonalne metody terapii mogą w większym stopniu zaspokajać potrzeby kobiet i pomagać radzić sobie z sytuacją choroby [12].…”

“…W badaniach Nahin i wsp. [12] stwierdzono, że osoby, które regularnie wykonują ćwiczenia fizyczne, 3-krotnie częściej sięgają po niekonwencjonalne metody terapii. Aktywność fizyczna silnie koreluje ze stosowaniem niekonwencjonalnych metod terapii również w badaniach innych autorów [17].…”