Alternative Medicine in the U.S.

1
Alternative Medicine in the U.S.

• James G. Anderson, Ph.D.
• Purdue University

2
Objective

• To document trends in alternative medicine use in
  the U.S. between 1990 and 1997.

3
Design

• Nationally representative random household
  telephone surveys using comparable key questions
  were conducted in 1991 and 1997 measuring
  utilization in 1990 and 1997, respectively.
• A total of 1539 adults in 1991 and 2055 in 1997.
• Prevalence, estimated costs and disclosure of
  alternative therapies to physicians were measured.

4
Other countries of population who used
alternative medicine during the past 12 months

• 10 Denmark
• 15 Canada
• 33 Finland
• 49 Australia

5
Types of Alternative Therapies

• Relaxation techniques
• Herbal medicine
• Massage
• Chiropractic
• Spiritual healing
• Megavitamins
• Self-help group
• Imagery

6
Types of Alternative Therapies

• Commercial diet
• Folk remedies
• Lifestyle diet
• Energy healing
• Homeopathy
• Hypnosis
• Biofeedback
• Acupuncture

7
Results

• Use of at least 1 of 16 alternative therapies
  during the previous year increased from 33.8 in
  1990 to 42.1 in 1997.
• The probability of users visiting an alternative
  medicine practitioner increased from 36.3 to
  46.3.

8
Results

• Therapies increasing the most included herbal
  medicine massage megavitamins self-
  help groups folk remedies energy
  healing homeopathy

9
ResultsAlternative therapies used most
frequently for

• Back problems
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Headaches

10
Disclosure of Alternative Therapies to Physicians

• 1990 38.5
• 1997 38.5

11
Percentage of Users paying Entirely Out-of-Pocket
for Alternative Therapies

• 1990 64
• 1997 68.3

12
Total Visits to Alternative Medicine
Practitioners in the U.S.

• Alternative Practitioners 1990 427
  million 1997 629 million

• Primary Care Physicians 1990 387
  million 1997 385 million

13
Estimated Total Expenditures for Alternative
Medicine Services

• 1990 14.6 billion
• 1997 21.2 billion

14
Why Patients use Alternative Medicine

• National study of why people in the U.S. use
  alternative medicine.
• Objective to investigate predictors of
  alternative health care use.

15
HypothesesPeople seek alternative medicine
because

• (1). they are dissatisfied with conventional
  treatment.
• (2). they see alternative medicine as offering
  more personal autonomy and control over health
  care decisions.
• (3). the alternatives are seen as more
  compatible with their beliefs, values, and world
  view.

16
Design

• Written survey examining use of alternative
  health care and attitudes toward conventional
  medicine.
• 1035 individuals were randomly selected who lived
  throughout the United States.

17
Results Predictors of use of alternative
medicine

• More education
• Poorer health status
• Chronic health problems
• Holistic orientation to health
• Experience that changed their world view
• Membership in cultural groups such as
  environmentalism, feminism, spiritualism
• Believing in the importance of body, mind, and
  spirit in treating health problems
• Perceived efficacy (relief of symptoms)

18
Results Predictors of use by those who
primarily use alternative medicine

• Distrust of conventional physicians and hospitals
• Desire for control over health decisions
• Dissatisfaction with conventional practitioners
• Belief in importance ofn ones inner life