The Association of Chronic Pain and Complementary Health Approach Usage: A Comprehensive Analysis Adjusting for...

Chronic pain is a significant public health issue linked to reduced quality of life and higher healthcare costs. Its complex etiology complicates treatment plans, leading many to seek complementary health approaches (CHAs). However, utilization patterns and clinical effects remain understudied.

To quantify the association between chronic pain and CHA utilization in US adults, focusing on osteopathic manipulative treatment and other non-traditional modalities, and to evaluate whether associations persist after adjusting for demographics.

A cross-sectional online survey of 3022 US adults examined CHA use among individuals diagnosed with chronic pain in the past year. Statistical analyses included Chi-Square tests of bivariate associations and logistic regression to evaluate associations with and without demographic adjustments. CHAs were categorized into the five NIH-defined groups: Physical, Psychological, Nutritional, Combined, and System-Based, encompassing nearly 30 interventions. CHA usage, favorable expectation, and favorable experience of these modalities were analyzed.

Individuals with chronic pain demonstrated significantly higher overall utilization of CHAs than those without (aOR = 2.36, 95% CI: 1.44-3.87), including osteopathic manipulative treatment (aOR = 3.29, 95% CI: 2.15-5.02). Despite low expectancy for positive outcomes across groups, chronic pain patients reported lower expectations for various modalities. Favorable experience for Any CHA among those with chronic pain was high (93.5%), especially for physical CHAs, acupuncture, and art, music, or dance therapy.

The increased use of CHAs among chronic pain patients underscores unmet needs in conventional care. Future longitudinal research should further clarify the factors influencing CHA adoption and evaluate their therapeutic efficacy.