Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Treatments in Veterans with Cancer or Chronic Pain
Author Information
Author(s): McEachrane-Gross F Patricia, Liebschutz Jane M, Berlowitz Dan
Primary Institution: Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital
Hypothesis
CAM use would be lower than that of the general population and would be influenced by income, educational level, insurance status, diagnosis, and beliefs about the cause of illness.
Conclusion
Use of 6 common CAM treatments among these veterans is lower than among the general population, but still substantial, with a large majority expressing interest in using CAM if offered at the VA.
Supporting Evidence
- 27.3% of veterans reported CAM use within the past 12 months.
- CAM use was associated with more education and higher income.
- 76% of CAM non-users reported they would use it if offered at the VA.
Takeaway
Many veterans with cancer or chronic pain use alternative treatments to help them feel better, but fewer do so compared to the general public. Most would try these treatments if they were available at their hospital.
Methodology
A self-administered, mail-in survey was conducted to assess demographics, health beliefs, medical problems, and CAM use among veterans attending oncology and chronic pain clinics.
Potential Biases
Potential underestimation of CAM use and lack of data on non-respondents' characteristics.
Limitations
The study's cross-sectional design limits the ability to track changes in CAM use over time, and it may underestimate CAM use by only including 6 therapies.
Participant Demographics
Mean age was 65 years, 93.5% male, 91.6% white, with 97.2% reporting an income of ≤ $50 K.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p = 0.02, p = 0.006, p = 0.003, p = 0.01, p = 0.015, p = 0.15
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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