Use of Complimentary/Alternative therapy for chronic pain

Abstract

Abstract Aims To investigate the use of Complimentary/Alternative therapy for chronic pain in nationwide sample. Methods In this cross-sectional study a postal questionnaire measuring socio-demographic variables (e.g. gender, education, income and residence), pain characteristics (severity and interference with daily life), health related quality of life and use of Complimentary/Alternative therapy for chronic pain, was sent to a sample of 4500 individuals randomly drawn from the national population of Iceland. The relationships between sociodemographic and pain related variables and pain related use Complimentary/Alternative therapy among participants reporting chronic pain (≥3 months) were tested. Results The prevalence of chronic pain (≥3 months) among respondents was 47.5%. Among participants reporting chronic pain, 45.5% (n = 343) reported having consulted some kind of Complimentary or Alternative therapy for their pain the previous six months and this was more prevalent among women than men. Most usual kind of therapists consulted was Acupuncturists (21.4%) and Chiropractors (18.3%). There were some gender differences in what kind of therapy people had consulted. Women were more likely than men to have consulted Acupuncturist while men consulted a Chiropractor more often than women. Logistic regression analysis showed that predictors for use of Complimentary/Alternative therapy for chronic pain were gender, urban residence and pain severity. The use of Complimentary/Alternative therapy was not related to education, family income or health related quality of life. Conclusions Women and urban residents are more likely than men and rural residents to seek Complimentary/Alternative therapy for chronic. People are more likely to seek Complimentary/Alternative care for chronic pain the more severe pain is.