Complementary and alternative medicine use among urban ED patients: prevalence and patterns

High rates of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use are well documented in the general population without clear clinical benefits. Published studies examining prevalence and patterns of CAM use in emergency patients, however, are limited. The objectives of this study were to describe the prevalence and patterns of CAM use in urban ED patients.

This was a descriptive study of a convenience sample of 174 patients presenting to the emergency department of a level I, urban, Catholic, tertiary teaching center, with an annual ED census of 43,000.

CAM use in our study group was high (47%). Although no sociodemographic predictors of CAM users were found, CAM users were more likely to have chronic conditions (P =.044). One third did not disclose CAM use. Prayer (28%), music therapy (11%), and meditation (10%) were the most frequently used types of CAM reported.

Patients should be questioned routinely about CAM use, given the high rates of use and low disclosure rates. Knowledge of potential positive and negative effects of CAM, interactions with conventional treatments, and sensitivity toward patients' decisions to opt for CAM are imperative. Spiritual support, where available, should be considered for at least some ED patients. The 3 most common types of CAM reported by ED patients at our level I trauma center were prayer/spirituality, music therapy, and meditation.