Adult Vaccination Coverage Among CAM Users
Author Information
Author(s): Stokley Shannon, Cullen Karen A, Kennedy Allison, Bardenheier Barbara H
Primary Institution: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Hypothesis
Is there an association between complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) use and adult vaccination coverage levels?
Conclusion
Vaccination coverage levels among recent CAM users were found to be higher than non-CAM users.
Supporting Evidence
- 36% of adults were recent CAM users.
- Recent CAM users had higher vaccination rates for influenza and pneumococcal vaccines.
- The study is the first nationally representative analysis of CAM use and vaccination behavior among adults.
Takeaway
People who use alternative medicine are more likely to get vaccinated than those who don't use it.
Methodology
Data from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey was analyzed, focusing on adults aged 18 and older who provided valid answers regarding CAM use and vaccination status.
Potential Biases
Self-reported data may introduce bias, and the cross-sectional design limits causal inference.
Limitations
The definition of CAM use was broad, potentially including therapies considered mainstream, and vaccination status was self-reported without verification.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 30,617 adults, with a higher frequency of females and non-Hispanic whites among recent CAM users.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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