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Determinants of complementary alternative medicine (CAM) use
1Family Medicine Stockholm, Karolinska Institutet, Alfred Nobels allé 12, SE-141 83 Huddinge, Sweden. ahmad.al-windi@slpo.sll.se
Complementary Therapies in Medicine
|November 25, 2004
Summary
Seventeen percent of patients used complementary alternative medicine (CAM), with chronic disease and physical activity being key predictors. CAM use was linked to higher healthcare service utilization.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Healthcare Research
- Integrative Medicine
Background:
- Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM) use is prevalent globally.
- Understanding CAM use patterns and determinants is crucial for healthcare planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe CAM usage patterns in a Swedish primary care setting.
- To identify factors influencing CAM use among patients.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire survey was administered to 1433 adult patients at a primary care center in Stockholm, Sweden.
- Data were linked with electronic medical records for comprehensive analysis.
- Logistic regression was employed to identify predictors of CAM use.
Main Results:
- 17% of respondents reported using CAM in the past year, with massage, acupuncture, chiropractic, and naprapathy being most common.
- Chronic disease and physical activity emerged as significant predictors of CAM consultations.
- CAM users accessed conventional medical services more frequently than non-users.
Conclusions:
- CAM, particularly manual therapies, is utilized alongside conventional treatments in this population.
- Chronic disease and physical activity are independent determinants of CAM use.
- CAM use is associated with higher overall healthcare service utilization.