E P Cherniack1, R S Senzel, C X Pan. 1. Department of Geriatrics and Adult Development, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA. cherniack.paul@bronx.va.gov
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and predictors of use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by the elderly. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey examining patterns of use of complementary therapies in two urban multiethnic populations of older adults. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: A convenience sample of 421 older participants were interviewed at two sites: a university geriatrics primary care practice and a veterans medical clinic, both in New York City. Subjects were excluded if they did not speak English or if they were moderately cognitively impaired. MEASUREMENT: Use of CAM within the previous year. RESULTS: Fifty-eight percent (58%) of all subjects surveyed used some form of CAM, and close to 75% at the university practice alone. Use correlated most strongly with female gender (p < 0.0001), greater education (p = 0.0095), thyroid disease (p = 0.0190) and arthritis (p = 0.0251). There was no correlation with income, race, age, or self-perceived health status. CONCLUSIONS: CAM use is highly prevalent in older persons in this study, especially among females and those who are more highly educated.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and predictors of use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by the elderly. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey examining patterns of use of complementary therapies in two urban multiethnic populations of older adults. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: A convenience sample of 421 older participants were interviewed at two sites: a university geriatrics primary care practice and a veterans medical clinic, both in New York City. Subjects were excluded if they did not speak English or if they were moderately cognitively impaired. MEASUREMENT: Use of CAM within the previous year. RESULTS: Fifty-eight percent (58%) of all subjects surveyed used some form of CAM, and close to 75% at the university practice alone. Use correlated most strongly with female gender (p < 0.0001), greater education (p = 0.0095), thyroid disease (p = 0.0190) and arthritis (p = 0.0251). There was no correlation with income, race, age, or self-perceived health status. CONCLUSIONS: CAM use is highly prevalent in older persons in this study, especially among females and those who are more highly educated.
Authors: Randy A Jones; Sharon Utz; Jennifer Wenzel; Richard Steeves; Ivora Hinton; Dana Andrews; Alison Murphy; Norman Oliver Journal: Altern Ther Health Med Date: 2006 Sep-Oct Impact factor: 1.305