Jon Wardle1, Chi-Wai Lui, Jon Adams. 1. School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Abstract
UNLABELLED: CONTEXTS: The consumption of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in rural areas is a significant contemporary health care issue. An understanding of CAM use in rural health can provide a new perspective on health beliefs and practice as well as on some of the core service delivery issues facing rural health care generally. PURPOSE: This article presents the first review and synthesis of research findings on CAM use and practice in rural communities. METHODS: A comprehensive search of literature from 1998 to 2010 in CINAHL, MEDLINE, AMED, and CSA Illumina (social sciences) was conducted. The search was confined to peer-reviewed articles published in English reporting empirical research findings on the use or practice of CAM in rural settings. FINDINGS: Research findings are grouped and examined according to 3 key themes: "prevalence of CAM use and practice,""user profile and trends of CAM consumption," and "potential drivers and barriers to CAM use and practice." CONCLUSIONS: Evidence from recent research illustrates the substantial prevalence and complexity of CAM use in rural regions. A number of potential gaps in our understanding of CAM use and practice in rural settings are also identified.
UNLABELLED: CONTEXTS: The consumption of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in rural areas is a significant contemporary health care issue. An understanding of CAM use in rural health can provide a new perspective on health beliefs and practice as well as on some of the core service delivery issues facing rural health care generally. PURPOSE: This article presents the first review and synthesis of research findings on CAM use and practice in rural communities. METHODS: A comprehensive search of literature from 1998 to 2010 in CINAHL, MEDLINE, AMED, and CSA Illumina (social sciences) was conducted. The search was confined to peer-reviewed articles published in English reporting empirical research findings on the use or practice of CAM in rural settings. FINDINGS: Research findings are grouped and examined according to 3 key themes: "prevalence of CAM use and practice,""user profile and trends of CAM consumption," and "potential drivers and barriers to CAM use and practice." CONCLUSIONS: Evidence from recent research illustrates the substantial prevalence and complexity of CAM use in rural regions. A number of potential gaps in our understanding of CAM use and practice in rural settings are also identified.
Authors: Jon Adams; David Sibbritt; Alex Broom; Deborah Loxton; Marie Pirotta; John Humphreys; Chi-Wai Lui Journal: BMC Complement Altern Med Date: 2011-10-07 Impact factor: 3.659
Authors: Andrew Stickley; Ai Koyanagi; Erica Richardson; Bayard Roberts; Dina Balabanova; Martin McKee Journal: BMC Complement Altern Med Date: 2013-04-11 Impact factor: 3.659