07.01.04
According to a new nationwide government survey, 36% of U.S. adults aged 18 years and older use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The survey, administered to over 31,000 representative U.S. adults, was conducted as part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) 2002 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). The survey included questions on 27 types of CAM therapies commonly used in the U.S. These included 10 types of provider-based therapies, such as acupuncture and chiropractic, and 17 other therapies that do not require a provider, such as natural health products (herbs or botanical products), special diets and megavitamin therapy. The results of this survey are significant because previous surveys on CAM have included fewer choices of CAM therapies and relied on smaller population samples and telephone or mail surveys; this survey employed in-person interviews. Thus, CDC believes this survey to be the most comprehensive to date on CAM use among U.S. adults.
Overall, the survey revealed that CAM use was greater among a variety of population groups, including women; people with higher education; those who had been hospitalized within the past year; and former smokers, compared to current smokers or those who had never smoked. It also yielded substantial information on CAM use by minorities. CAM approaches were often used to address back pain or problems, colds, neck pain, or problems with joint pain or stiffness, and anxiety or depression. Interestingly, only about 12% of adults sought care from a licensed CAM practitioner, which suggests that most people who use CAM do so without consulting a practitioner. According to the survey, the 10 most commonly used CAM therapies and approximate percentage of U.S. adults using each therapy were: prayer for own health, 43%; prayer by others for the respondent’s health, 24%; natural products (such as herbs, other botanicals and enzymes), 19%; deep breathing exercises, 12%; participation in prayer group for own health, 10%; medication, 8%; chiropractic care, 8%; yoga, 5%; massage, 5%; and diet-based therapies (such as Atkins, Pritkin, Ornish and Zone diets), 4%. In addition to gathering data on the use of CAM practices, the survey also sought information about why people use CAM. Key findings indicated that 55% of adults said they were most likely to use CAM because they believed it would help them when combined with conventional medical treatments; 50% thought CAM would be interesting to try; 26% used CAM because a conventional medical professional suggested they try it; and 13% used CAM because they felt conventional medicine was too expensive. In addition, the survey found that 28% of adults used CAM because they believed conventional medical treatments would not help them with their health problem; this is in contrast to previous findings that CAM users are not, in general, dissatisfied with conventional medicine.
Overall, the survey revealed that CAM use was greater among a variety of population groups, including women; people with higher education; those who had been hospitalized within the past year; and former smokers, compared to current smokers or those who had never smoked. It also yielded substantial information on CAM use by minorities. CAM approaches were often used to address back pain or problems, colds, neck pain, or problems with joint pain or stiffness, and anxiety or depression. Interestingly, only about 12% of adults sought care from a licensed CAM practitioner, which suggests that most people who use CAM do so without consulting a practitioner. According to the survey, the 10 most commonly used CAM therapies and approximate percentage of U.S. adults using each therapy were: prayer for own health, 43%; prayer by others for the respondent’s health, 24%; natural products (such as herbs, other botanicals and enzymes), 19%; deep breathing exercises, 12%; participation in prayer group for own health, 10%; medication, 8%; chiropractic care, 8%; yoga, 5%; massage, 5%; and diet-based therapies (such as Atkins, Pritkin, Ornish and Zone diets), 4%. In addition to gathering data on the use of CAM practices, the survey also sought information about why people use CAM. Key findings indicated that 55% of adults said they were most likely to use CAM because they believed it would help them when combined with conventional medical treatments; 50% thought CAM would be interesting to try; 26% used CAM because a conventional medical professional suggested they try it; and 13% used CAM because they felt conventional medicine was too expensive. In addition, the survey found that 28% of adults used CAM because they believed conventional medical treatments would not help them with their health problem; this is in contrast to previous findings that CAM users are not, in general, dissatisfied with conventional medicine.