Characteristics of persons with hand osteoarthritis visiting complementary and alternative medicine providers

To examine the frequency of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in a hand osteoarthritis (OA) population, and to compare demographic and clinical characteristics between persons with hand OA visiting vs. not visiting CAM providers.

300 persons with hand OA from the Nor-Hand study responded to questionnaires concerning demographic information, medical assessments and their use of CAM and other therapies. In addition, they answered questions about health-related quality of life, comorbidities, psychological health and joint symptoms. The characteristics of persons visiting vs. not visiting CAM providers were compared using chi-square tests and t-tests or Mann-Whitney tests, as appropriate.

In total 227 (75.7%) persons with hand OA had used CAM for their joint symptoms and 68 (22.7%) had visited CAM providers. Persons visiting CAM providers reported more severe joint pain when taking all joints into account (mean 4.5 vs. 3.9 on a 0-10 Numerical Rating Scale, p ​= ​0.05) and more frequent use of non-pharmacological interventions, conventional analgesics, opioids, and previous surgery on ligaments and joints compared with persons not visiting CAM providers. Persons visiting CAM providers also reported more comorbidities and anxiety symptoms and they were characterized by having a more approach-seeking behaviour.

Persons with hand OA in secondary care were frequently visiting CAM providers. Persons visiting CAM providers were characterized by more severe joint symptoms despite the use of non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions compared with persons not visiting CAM providers.