Determinants of Complementary and Integrative Health Approaches: A Cross-Sectional Study Using the All of Us Research...

Area of Science:

• Integrative Medicine
• Public Health Research
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Complementary and integrative health (CIH) therapies are increasingly recognized for their potential health benefits.
• Understanding CIH utilization patterns is crucial, especially within large, diverse research initiatives like the All of Us (AoU) program.
• Current data on CIH use within the AoU cohort is limited, necessitating investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the utilization of complementary and integrative health (CIH) therapies among participants in the All of Us (AoU) research program.
• To identify demographic and socioeconomic factors associated with CIH use within this diverse population.
• To compare characteristics of adult CIH users and nonusers in the AoU study.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study design was employed using electronic health record and survey data from the AoU program.
• Participant characteristics were compared between those who used CIH therapies and those who did not.
• General linear models were utilized to determine factors associated with the utilization of various CIH modalities.

Main Results:

• A total of 3171 participants were identified as CIH users, engaging in therapies such as chiropractic/osteopathic manipulation, acupuncture, dietary modification, and massage.
• CIH users were more likely to be White, have higher education levels, and possess insurance compared to nonusers.
• Specific demographic factors including education, insurance status, sex, and race were found to be significantly associated with the use of individual CIH modalities.

Conclusions:

• The study observed low overall utilization of complementary and integrative health (CIH) therapies within the All of Us research program.
• Several key factors, including race, education, insurance, and sex, were identified as being associated with CIH use.
• Further research is recommended to address existing data gaps and better understand CIH utilization in diverse populations.