Complementary and alternative medicine use and pain characteristics in older Vietnamese adults with chronic pain: A...

Chronic pain is a common and burdensome condition among older adults, significantly impacting their quality of life and increasing interest in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approaches to pain management.

This study aimed to describe the prevalence of CAM use and attitudes toward CAM for self-managing chronic pain among older adults, and to examine the associations between chronic pain characteristics, CAM use, and attitudes toward CAM.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 289 hospitalized patients aged ≥60 years with chronic pain at a general hospital in Da Nang, Vietnam, in 2025. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire that included the Pain Disability Index (PDI) and the Attitudes towards CAM scale. Statistical analyses included t-tests, ANOVA, chi-square tests, and Pearson's correlation.

CAM use was reported by 92.7% of participants, with biologically based therapies (e.g., herbal remedies) being the most common (81.3%). The average attitude score toward CAM was 28.7 (SD = 3.2), indicating generally favorable views. CAM use was more frequently reported among participants experiencing pain in specific anatomical locations, including the arm/hand, neck, upper back, and lower back (all p <0.008 after Bonferroni correction). Attitudes toward CAM were modestly associated with perceived pain control ability (p = 0.031) and with the impact of chronic pain on daily life (r = 0.206; p <0.001), while other pain characteristics showed no significant associations.

CAM is widely used and positively perceived among older Vietnamese adults with chronic pain. Associations were observed between certain pain characteristics and CAM use, as well as between pain-related interference and attitudes toward CAM. These findings highlight the importance of routinely assessing CAM use in older adults and providing guidance on safe, evidence-based options within comprehensive pain management, while recognizing the observational nature of the data.