Oral complementary medicine and alternative practitioner use varies across chronic conditions and attitudes to risk

Robert J Adams1, Sarah L Appleton1, Antonia Cole2, Tiffany K Gill3, Anne W Taylor3, Catherine L Hill11The Health Observatory, 2Rheumatology Unit, 3Population Research and Outcomes Unit, SA Health, The University of Adelaide Discipline of Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville, AustraliaObject...

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Main Authors: Robert J Adams, Sarah L Appleton, Antonia Cole, et al
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2010-11-01
Series:Clinical Epidemiology
Online Access:http://www.dovepress.com/oral-complementary-medicine-and-alternative-practitioner-use-varies-ac-a5606
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spelling doaj-6fc90f73b01340b8a2ed8e0613b7f9472020-11-24T23:05:03ZengDove Medical PressClinical Epidemiology1179-13492010-11-012010default251260Oral complementary medicine and alternative practitioner use varies across chronic conditions and attitudes to riskRobert J AdamsSarah L AppletonAntonia Coleet alRobert J Adams1, Sarah L Appleton1, Antonia Cole2, Tiffany K Gill3, Anne W Taylor3, Catherine L Hill11The Health Observatory, 2Rheumatology Unit, 3Population Research and Outcomes Unit, SA Health, The University of Adelaide Discipline of Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville, AustraliaObjectives: To determine whether chronic conditions and patient factors, such as risk perception and decision-making preferences, are associated with complementary medicine and alternative practitioner use in a representative longitudinal population cohort.Participants and setting: Analysis of data from Stage 2 of the North West Adelaide Health Study of 3161 adults who attended a study clinic visit in 2004–2006. The main outcome measures were the medications brought by participants to the study clinic visit, chronic health conditions, attitudes to risk, levels of satisfaction with conventional medicine, and preferred decision-making style.Results: At least one oral complementary medicine was used by 27.9% of participants, and 7.3% were visiting alternative practitioners (naturopath, osteopath). Oral complementary medicine use was significantly associated with arthritis, osteoporosis, and mental health conditions, but not with other chronic conditions. Any pattern of complementary medicine use was generally significantly associated with female gender, age at least 45 years, patient-driven decision-making preferences (odds ratio [OR] 1.38, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08–1.77), and frequent general practitioner visits (>five per year; OR 3.62, 95% CI: 2.13–6.17). Alternative practitioner visitors were younger, with higher levels of education (diploma/trade [OR 1.88, 95% CI: 1.28–2.76], bachelor’s degree [OR 1.77, 95% CI: 1.11–2.82], income > $80,000 (OR 2.28, 95% CI: 1.26–4.11), female gender (OR 3.15, 95% CI: 2.19–4.52), joint pain not diagnosed as arthritis (OR 1.68, 95% CI: 1.17–2.41), moderate to severe depressive symptoms (OR 2.15, 95% CI: 1.04–4.46), and risk-taking behavior (3.26, 1.80–5.92), or low-to-moderate risk aversion (OR 2.08, 95% CI: 1.26–4.11).Conclusion: Although there is widespread use of complementary medicines in the Australian community, there are differing patterns of use between those using oral complementary medicines and those using alternative practitioners.Keywords: complementary medicine, chronic disease, risk attitudes, population study http://www.dovepress.com/oral-complementary-medicine-and-alternative-practitioner-use-varies-ac-a5606
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Robert J Adams
Sarah L Appleton
Antonia Cole
et al
spellingShingle Robert J Adams
Sarah L Appleton
Antonia Cole
et al
Oral complementary medicine and alternative practitioner use varies across chronic conditions and attitudes to risk
Clinical Epidemiology
author_facet Robert J Adams
Sarah L Appleton
Antonia Cole
et al
author_sort Robert J Adams
title Oral complementary medicine and alternative practitioner use varies across chronic conditions and attitudes to risk
title_short Oral complementary medicine and alternative practitioner use varies across chronic conditions and attitudes to risk
title_full Oral complementary medicine and alternative practitioner use varies across chronic conditions and attitudes to risk
title_fullStr Oral complementary medicine and alternative practitioner use varies across chronic conditions and attitudes to risk
title_full_unstemmed Oral complementary medicine and alternative practitioner use varies across chronic conditions and attitudes to risk
title_sort oral complementary medicine and alternative practitioner use varies across chronic conditions and attitudes to risk
publisher Dove Medical Press
series Clinical Epidemiology
issn 1179-1349
publishDate 2010-11-01
description Robert J Adams1, Sarah L Appleton1, Antonia Cole2, Tiffany K Gill3, Anne W Taylor3, Catherine L Hill11The Health Observatory, 2Rheumatology Unit, 3Population Research and Outcomes Unit, SA Health, The University of Adelaide Discipline of Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville, AustraliaObjectives: To determine whether chronic conditions and patient factors, such as risk perception and decision-making preferences, are associated with complementary medicine and alternative practitioner use in a representative longitudinal population cohort.Participants and setting: Analysis of data from Stage 2 of the North West Adelaide Health Study of 3161 adults who attended a study clinic visit in 2004–2006. The main outcome measures were the medications brought by participants to the study clinic visit, chronic health conditions, attitudes to risk, levels of satisfaction with conventional medicine, and preferred decision-making style.Results: At least one oral complementary medicine was used by 27.9% of participants, and 7.3% were visiting alternative practitioners (naturopath, osteopath). Oral complementary medicine use was significantly associated with arthritis, osteoporosis, and mental health conditions, but not with other chronic conditions. Any pattern of complementary medicine use was generally significantly associated with female gender, age at least 45 years, patient-driven decision-making preferences (odds ratio [OR] 1.38, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08–1.77), and frequent general practitioner visits (>five per year; OR 3.62, 95% CI: 2.13–6.17). Alternative practitioner visitors were younger, with higher levels of education (diploma/trade [OR 1.88, 95% CI: 1.28–2.76], bachelor’s degree [OR 1.77, 95% CI: 1.11–2.82], income > $80,000 (OR 2.28, 95% CI: 1.26–4.11), female gender (OR 3.15, 95% CI: 2.19–4.52), joint pain not diagnosed as arthritis (OR 1.68, 95% CI: 1.17–2.41), moderate to severe depressive symptoms (OR 2.15, 95% CI: 1.04–4.46), and risk-taking behavior (3.26, 1.80–5.92), or low-to-moderate risk aversion (OR 2.08, 95% CI: 1.26–4.11).Conclusion: Although there is widespread use of complementary medicines in the Australian community, there are differing patterns of use between those using oral complementary medicines and those using alternative practitioners.Keywords: complementary medicine, chronic disease, risk attitudes, population study
url http://www.dovepress.com/oral-complementary-medicine-and-alternative-practitioner-use-varies-ac-a5606
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