Abstract
BackgroundComplementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is emerging as an important form of care in the United States. We sought to measure the prevalence of selected CAM use among veterans attending oncology and chronic pain clinics and to describe the characteristics of CAM use in this population.MethodsThe self-administered, mail-in survey included questions on demographics, health beliefs, medical problems and 6 common CAM treatments (herbs, dietary supplements, chiropractic care, massage therapy, acupuncture and homeopathy) use. We used the chi-square test to examine bivariate associations between our predictor variables and CAM use.ResultsSeventy-two patients (27.3%) reported CAM use within the past 12 months. CAM use was associated with more education (p = 0.02), higher income (p = 0.006), non-VA insurance (p = 0.003), additional care outside the VA (p = 0.01) and the belief that lifestyle contributes to illness (p = 0.015). The diagnosis of chronic pain versus cancer was not associated with differential CAM use (p = 0.15). Seventy-six percent of CAM non-users reported that they would use it if offered at the VA.ConclusionUse of 6 common CAM treatments among these veterans is lower than among the general population, but still substantial. A large majority of veterans reported interest in using CAM modalities if they were offered at the VA. A national assessment of veteran interest in CAM may assist VA leaders to respond to patients' needs.
Highlights
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is emerging as an important form of care in the United States
The primary purpose of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of 6 common CAM treatments and determine characteristics associated with their use among veterans whose CAM use was expected to be high, those receiving care at the oncology and chronic pain clinics [8]
Characteristics of survey respondents Surveys were mailed to 500 veterans; 457 were alive with correct mailing addresses (39 patients from oncology and 4 from the chronic pain clinic were deceased)
Summary
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is emerging as an important form of care in the United States. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2006, 6:34 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/6/34 health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine" [4]. This definition, arrived at after much debate [5], demonstrates that the scope of CAM can be quite large and dynamic. Complementary therapies do not replace mainstream cancer treatment and are not promoted to cure disease. Rather, they control symptoms and improve well-being and quality of life. Alternative methods are defined as unproved or disproved methods, rather than evidence-based or proven methods to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer [6]
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