Older rural women and the use of complementary therapies.

One hundred seventy-five rural women over the age of 70 participated in a study to assess their use of complementary therapies and practitioners. Data were collected via questionnaires and interviews. Findings suggest that these women used nontraditional health practices to treat a variety of symptoms, as well as to maintain their independence. However, very few of them informed their primary care providers that they used complementary therapies and practitioners. The majority were inadequately informed regarding the efficacy and safety of the therapies.