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Complementary and alternative medicine: personal preference or low cost option?
1Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
LDI Issue Brief
|March 24, 2005
Summary
Americans increasingly use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) due to dissatisfaction with conventional care, its alignment with personal values, or lower costs. Research explores the link between CAM use and perceived access to standard medical services.
Area of Science:
- Integrative medicine and health services research.
- Public health and healthcare utilization studies.
Background:
- Widespread and increasing use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the United States.
- Diverse patient-reported reasons for CAM use, including dissatisfaction with conventional care, value alignment, and cost considerations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize existing research on the relationship between the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and patients' perceptions of access to conventional healthcare.
- To understand how perceived access influences CAM utilization patterns.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis of research evaluating the association between CAM use and perceived access to conventional healthcare.
- Analysis of factors contributing to CAM adoption in relation to healthcare system accessibility.
Main Results:
- Summarizes research findings on the correlation between CAM usage and perceived barriers or facilitators in accessing conventional medical services.
- Highlights how patient perceptions of conventional care's effectiveness and accessibility may drive CAM choices.
Conclusions:
- Findings inform healthcare providers and policymakers about the complex interplay between conventional healthcare access and the growing use of CAM.
- Understanding these relationships is crucial for developing integrated healthcare strategies that address patient needs and preferences effectively.