Analysis of National Survey Shows CAM Use in People With Pain or Neurological Conditions [NCCAM Research Results]

Analysis of National Survey Shows CAM Use in People With Pain or Neurological Conditions

According to an analysis of the 2007 National Health Interview Survey, approximately 44 percent of American adults with pain or neurological conditions, compared to about 33 percent of people without those conditions, used complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) during the previous year. The analysis, published in the Journal of Neurology, also revealed that 51 percent of adults with these conditions did not talk to their health care provider about their CAM use.

Researchers examined common pain or neurological conditions: headaches, including migraines; memory loss; stroke; low-back pain spreading to the leg; seizures; and dementia. The most common CAM therapies used by people with these conditions were mind-body therapies (25 percent), such as deep breathing exercises, meditation, and yoga; biologically based therapies (21 percent), such as herbal therapies; manipulative and body-based therapies (19 percent), such as massage and chiropractic care; and alternative medical systems (4 percent).

Nearly 33 percent of respondents with pain or neurological conditions, compared to approximately 21 percent of respondents without those conditions, reported using CAM because of their health care provider’s recommendation. In addition, respondents with pain or neurological conditions indicated that they used CAM because conventional treatment did not work (20 percent vs. 10 percent) and was too expensive (9 percent vs. 4 percent).

These data offer more insight into the use of CAM by people with pain or neurological conditions. The researchers noted that this analysis demonstrates the need for more robust studies on the efficacy of CAM therapies for people with these conditions.

Reference
Wells RE, Phillips RS, Schachter SC, et al. Complementary and alternative medicine use among U.S. adults with common neurological conditions. Journal of Neurology. 2010;257:1822–1831. ► Complementary and alternative medicine use among U... [J Neurol. 2010] - PubMed result


Additional Resources
Pain ► Pain [NCCAM Health Information]

Statistics on Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the United States ► Statistics on CAM in the United States [NCCAM News and Events]


Analysis of National Survey Shows CAM Use in People With Pain or Neurological Conditions [NCCAM Research Results]



J Neurol. 2010 Nov;257(11):1822-31. Epub 2010 Jun 11.
Complementary and alternative medicine use among US adults with common neurological conditions.
Wells RE, Phillips RS, Schachter SC, McCarthy EP.
SourceDivision for Research and Education in Complementary and Integrative Medical Therapies, Osher Research Center, Harvard Medical School, Landmark Center, Suite 22A-West, Boston, MA 02215, USA. Rebecca_Wells@hms.harvard.edu

Abstract
Our objective was to determine patterns, reasons for, and correlates of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in US adults with common neurological conditions. We compared CAM use between adults with and without common neurological conditions (regular headaches, migraines, back pain with sciatica, strokes, dementia, seizures, or memory loss) using the 2007 National Health Interview Survey of 23,393 sampled US adults. Adults with common neurological conditions used CAM more frequently than those without (44.1 vs. 32.6%, p < 0.0001); differences persisted after adjustment. For each CAM modality, adults with common neurological conditions were more likely to use CAM than those without these conditions. Nearly half of adults with back pain with sciatica, memory loss, and migraines reported use of CAM. Mind/body therapies were used the most; alternative medical systems were used the least. Over 50% of adults with common neurological conditions who used CAM had not discussed their use with their health care provider. Those with neurological conditions used CAM more often than those without because of provider recommendation, or because conventional treatments were perceived ineffective or too costly. Significant correlates of CAM use among adults with common neurological conditions include higher than high school education, anxiety in the prior year, living in the west, being a former smoker, and light alcohol use. CAM is used more frequently among adults with common neurological conditions than those without. More research on the efficacy of CAM use for common neurological conditions is warranted. PMID:20535493[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] PMCID: PMC3050588 [Available on 2011/11/1] Complementary and alternative medicine use among U... [J Neurol. 2010] - PubMed result