Faculty Collaboration Database

National patterns and correlates of complementary and alternative medicine use in adults with diabetes. J Altern Complement Med 2006 Nov;12(9):895-902

Date

11/18/2006

Pubmed ID

17109581

DOI

10.1089/acm.2006.12.895

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-33751080346 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   61 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine national patterns and correlates of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among adults with diabetes.

METHODS: The authors compared CAM use in 2474 adults with and 28,625 adults without diabetes who participated in the most comprehensive national survey on CAM use (2002 National Health Interview Survey). Eight CAM use categories were created, including dietary, herbal, chiropractic, yoga, relaxation, vitamin, prayer, and other (acupuncture, Ayurveda, biofeedback, chelation, energy healing or Reiki therapy, hypnosis, massage, naturopathy, and homeopathy). An overall CAM use category also was created that excluded vitamins and prayer. Patterns of use were compared with chi-square and independent correlates of CAM use with multiple logistic regression controlling for relevant covariates. STATA was used for analysis to account for the complex survey design.

RESULTS: Prevalence of overall use of CAM did not differ significantly by diabetes status (47.6 versus 47.9%, p = 0.81). Diabetes was not an independent predictor of overall use of CAM (OR 0.93, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.83, 1.05). However, persons with diabetes were more likely to use prayer (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.05, 1.36), but less likely to use herbs (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.75, 0.99), yoga (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.43, 0.72), or vitamins (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.72, 0.93) than people without diabetes after controlling for relevant covariates. Independent correlates of overall use of CAM differed by age, income, employment, comorbidity, and health status between people with and without diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS: This study found that there has been a dramatic increase in overall use of CAM in adults with diabetes; diabetes was not an independent predictor of overall use of CAM; and people with diabetes were more likely to use prayer, but less likely to use herbs, yoga, or vitamins compared to persons without diabetes.

Author List

Garrow D, Egede LE

Author

Leonard E. Egede MD Center Director, Chief, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Chi-Square Distribution
Complementary Therapies
Confidence Intervals
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
Female
Health Behavior
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Logistic Models
Male
Middle Aged
Odds Ratio
Patient Acceptance of Health Care
Patient Satisfaction
Self Care
Socioeconomic Factors
Surveys and Questionnaires
United States