Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among US Navy and Marine Corps Personnel
Author Information
Author(s): Tyler C. Smith, Margaret A. K. Ryan, Besa Smith, Robert J. Reed, James R. Riddle, Gia R. Gumbs, Gregory C. Gray
Primary Institution: Department of Defense Center for Deployment Health Research at the Naval Health Research Center
Hypothesis
What is the prevalence and impact of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in US military populations?
Conclusion
CAM use is prevalent in the US military and aligns with patterns observed in civilian populations.
Supporting Evidence
- 39.3% of contacted service members returned a questionnaire.
- More than 37% reported using at least one CAM therapy during the past year.
- Herbal therapies were among the most commonly reported at 15.9%.
- 69.8% of respondents reported their health as very good or excellent.
Takeaway
About 37 out of every 100 Navy and Marine Corps personnel use alternative medicine to help with their health.
Methodology
A survey was conducted among a stratified random sample of 5,000 active duty and Reserve/National Guard members.
Potential Biases
Self-reported data may introduce bias, and reasons for nonresponse were not obtained.
Limitations
The study may not represent all Navy and Marine Corps personnel due to a low response rate and self-reported data.
Participant Demographics
The study included 1,305 respondents, predominantly male, with a majority being younger than 31 years and 59% married.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.10
Confidence Interval
95% CI, 1.66–2.87
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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