Attitudes toward and use of complementary and alternative medicine among Hispanic and white mothers

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use has become more prevalent in the United States. Little is known, however, regarding the ethnic and language differences of mothers as related to their beliefs about and use of CAM.

This study intended to examine the differences in CAM beliefs and use in English- and Spanish-speaking Hispanic and white mothers of children undergoing surgery.

The research team employed a cross-sectional survey design.

Mothers were recruited from the Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) in Southern California, and they completed the study's surveys on the day of their children's outpatient surgery.

A total of 206 mothers participated: (1) 42 English-speaking, non-Hispanic white (ESW) women; (2) 92 English-speaking Hispanic (ESH) women; and (3) 72 Spanish-speaking Hispanic (SSH) women.

Participants completed (1) the Holistic and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Questionnaire (HCAMQ), which captured beliefs about holistic health measures and about the validity of CAM; and (2) a checklist identifying past and present use of 27 different CAM therapies.

The research team analyzed and controlled for demographic differences using linear regression, and the analysis revealed significant group differences in CAM use (P < .0001). ESW mothers and ESH mothers used more CAM than SSH mothers (P = .02). No significant differences were observed between groups for CAM related beliefs.

After controlling for socioeconomic status, the research team found that SSH mothers used less CAM compared to ESH and ESW mothers. Employment of culturally specific measures of CAM use may be necessary to understand fully the differences in CAM use between Spanish- and English-speaking mothers as well as to understand the medical conditions that prompt CAM use.