Michael S. Goldstein¹, Jennifer H. Lee², Hal Morgenstern³, Rachel Ballard-Barbash⁴, E. Richard Brown⁵, An-Fu Hsiao⁶ and Roshan Bastani⁷

¹Dept. of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles ²Dept of community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles ³Dept. of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan. ⁴Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute. ⁵Dept. of Health Services and Center for Health Policy Research, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles. ⁶Division of General Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles ⁷Dept. of Health Services, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles.

Abstract

Background: Population-based data about utilization of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among those with chronic conditions is lacking.

Objective: To describe whether CAM use by California adults with cancer and other chronic conditions reflects condition specific patterns or a general tendency to use CAM modalities.

Methods: Interviews of 9,187 respondents including all participants with cancer from a prior representative survey of California households, and a stratified sample of all other respondents. Almost 74% of the respondents reported at least one chronic health problem.

Results: Use of all forms of CAM among those with chronic health problems is high. Those with a diagnosis of cancer are more likely to use prayer, dietary supplements, and support groups, and less likely to use CAM providers and special diets. Overall, individuals diagnosed with most chronic problems use a similar set of CAM modalities. Demographic correlates of CAM use differ in their impact and vary according to what type of CAM is being used.

Conclusions: Clinicians should be aware that while a diagnosis of cancer is associated with a greater use of some forms of CAM, overall patterns of CAM use are similar to those with most other chronic problems.