BACKGROUND: The majority of Australians use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Despite concerns about safety, patterns of health literacy and CAM use in Australian general practice are unknown. METHODS: Pre-existing questionnaires assessing health literacy and CAM use (HLQ and I-CAM-Q) were distributed by eight practices across four Australian states to 800 patients aged 18 years and older for self-completion. Regression modelling and cluster analysis were applied to the data. RESULTS: The response rate was 47% (n = 374), the mean age was 53 years and 68% of participants were female. Two-thirds of participants used some form of CAM in the previous 12 months, and 60% believed CAM aided wellbeing. There were significant associations between cluster membership, education, sex and CAM use. DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest CAM use is a complex phenomenon, associated with gender and education. We demonstrated a cluster of female patients with high CAM use and lower health literacy warranting further research.
BACKGROUND: The majority of Australians use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Despite concerns about safety, patterns of health literacy and CAM use in Australian general practice are unknown. METHODS: Pre-existing questionnaires assessing health literacy and CAM use (HLQ and I-CAM-Q) were distributed by eight practices across four Australian states to 800 patients aged 18 years and older for self-completion. Regression modelling and cluster analysis were applied to the data. RESULTS: The response rate was 47% (n = 374), the mean age was 53 years and 68% of participants were female. Two-thirds of participants used some form of CAM in the previous 12 months, and 60% believed CAM aided wellbeing. There were significant associations between cluster membership, education, sex and CAM use. DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest CAM use is a complex phenomenon, associated with gender and education. We demonstrated a cluster of female patients with high CAM use and lower health literacy warranting further research.
Authors: Ellen Jones; Lisa Nissen; Alexandra McCarthy; Kathryn Steadman; Carol Windsor Journal: Integr Cancer Ther Date: 2019 Jan-Dec Impact factor: 3.279
Authors: Ellen Jones; Lisa Nissen; Alexandra McCarthy; Kathryn Steadman; Carol Windsor Journal: Integr Cancer Ther Date: 2019 Jan-Dec Impact factor: 3.279
Authors: Esayas B Kebede; Judy Tan; Salma Iftikhar; Haitham S Abu Lebdeh; Murali K Duggirala; Amit K Ghosh; Ivana T Croghan; Sarah M Jenkins; Saswati Mahapatra; Brent A Bauer; Dietlind L Wahner-Roedler Journal: Glob Adv Health Med Date: 2021-04-21
Authors: Louise T C Mulder; Martine Busch; Agnete E Kristoffersen; Johanna Hök Nordberg; Esther T van der Werf Journal: BMC Complement Med Ther Date: 2022-02-15