Ethnic Differences in CAM Use Among Adults with Osteoarthritis
Author Information
Author(s): Herman Carla J MD, MPH, Dente Jenny M MD, Allen Peg MPH, Hunt William C MA
Primary Institution: University of New Mexico
Hypothesis
Ethnicity and acculturation influence patterns of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among adults with osteoarthritis.
Conclusion
Ethnicity significantly influences patterns of CAM use, with some differences more pronounced among Spanish-speaking Hispanics.
Supporting Evidence
- 89.4% of participants reported ever using CAM.
- 66.7% reported current use of CAM for osteoarthritis management.
- Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites had similar rates of overall CAM use.
- Low-acculturated Hispanics were more likely to use oral herbs and topical herbal rubs.
- High-acculturated Hispanics mirrored patterns of CAM use among non-Hispanic whites.
- 52.2% of Hispanics reported their CAM use to their primary care provider compared to 75.2% of non-Hispanic whites.
- Communication about CAM use was less frequent among Hispanics.
Takeaway
People from different backgrounds use alternative medicine in different ways, especially when they have arthritis.
Methodology
Interviews were conducted using a 255-item survey with randomly selected participants aged 18 to 84 diagnosed with osteoarthritis.
Potential Biases
Potential recall bias and the lack of medical record confirmation for osteoarthritis diagnosis.
Limitations
The study relied on self-reported data, which may be subject to recall bias, and the sample may not be representative of all populations.
Participant Demographics
51.6% Hispanic and 48.3% non-Hispanic white, with varying levels of education and income.
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