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Research: HARRIGAN and colleagues,
Listed in Issue 140
Abstract
HARRIGAN and colleagues, Department of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai’i, 651 Ilalo Street, MEB Honolulu, HI 96813, USA, harrigan@hawaii.edu, have surveyed the use of CAM therapies in Hawaii.
Background
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is used increasingly as a treatment option. Data related to the prevalence of CAM use in diverse racial and ethnic populations is limited. The aim of this study was to describe the use of CAM in Hawaiian, Asian, and other Pacific Island populations in Hawaii.
Methodology
The data were collected through the Hawaii Health Survey which was administered by telephone among 5,000 stratified, randomly selected households, representing each of the Hawaiian Islands. The sample population was statistically adjusted to represent the population of Hawaii.
Results
Most CAM users are more educated, have incomes 200% or more above the poverty line, and reported either good or very good health status. Among respondents with poor health status, 60.4% have used CAM. Those who were overweight also reported a high level of CAM use (51.4%). Similar percentages of both women and men use CAM, while the youngest and oldest respondents reported the least use of CAM. Whites (60.0%) and Koreans (56.6%) reported the highest percentage of use, while African Americans (35.5%) and Filipinos (37. 1%) reported the lowest percentage. The majority of people without health insurance report CAM use (53. 7%). The highest portion of people who have used any alternative health care service is found among those whose pain severely interferes with normal work (78.3%).
Conclusion
The use of CAM was found to be significantly greater in Hawaii compared with the mainland. These results suggest the need for additional investigation of CAM use in specific ethnic groups.
References
Harrigan R et al. Use of provider delivered complementary and alternative therapies in Hawai’i: results of the Hawai’i Health Survey. Hawaii Medical Journal 65 (5): 130-132, 134-139, 151, May 2006.
