Abstract
Objective. A cross-cultural comparative study was developed that surveyed university students in Atlanta (United States), New Delhi (India), and Newcastle upon Tyne (United Kingdom) to understand the prevalence and perspectives of CAM in three urban societies with different healthcare systems. Design. Surveys were sent to students in the three aforementioned cities. Survey distribution occurred over 6 months from May to November 2015. A total of 314 surveys were received. Results. Dietary and vitamin supplements had the highest prevalence collectively (n = 203), followed by meditation, yoga, and massage. Commentary analysis showed the importance of science and evidence in justifying CAM practice. Conclusions. Matching the most prevalent practices with their designated NCCAM categories suggested that the students were attracted to biologically based, body-based, and mind-body practices as the central themes of attraction. Selected and prevalent CAM practices suggested the students' desire to maintain physical and mental fitness. Access to healthcare may have influence on the prevalence of CAM. Indian students were more likely to view CAM as a viable alternative to conventional medicine.
Highlights
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a broad field of medical “therapies” outside the mainstream practice of hospitals
In Germany, 500 outpatient children were surveyed and the results showed that 57% of them were CAM users, most commonly homeopathy (25%), herbal remedies (8%), and anthroposophic medicine (7%)
Student interest in promoting self-care and preventative medicine could be seen in their selection and usage of CAM therapies
Summary
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a broad field of medical “therapies” outside the mainstream practice of hospitals. There had been an increase in interest among Americans in CAM. One study conducted in 2007 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that approximately 38% of Americans (across age groups) had used some sort of CAM practice [1]. A 2015 report by the CDC analyzed trends on CAM usage from 2002 to 2012 among a sample of 88,962 adults [2]. The report depicted a rise in overall CAM prevalence from 2002 to 2007 (32.3% and 35.5%, resp.), followed by a decrease of 2.3% from 2007 to 2012. The report showed a growth in Yoga usage with an increase in prevalence from 5.1% in 2002 to 6.1% in 2007 and 9.5% in 2012. The decreasing popularity of CAM in the United States may be explained by the high level of skepticism on whether the practices work: were they supported by science [3, 4]?
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