What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate demographic, clinical, and philosophical factors that predict the use of alternative healthcare therapies.

May 20, 1998JAMA

Why Patients Use Alternative Medicine

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Authors

JAJohn A. AstinUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore

Discussion

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Implication

Survey study finds alternative medicine adoption correlates with personal values and chronic symptoms in adults, indicating philosophical alignment drives usage rather than dissatisfaction.

Key Points

To evaluate demographic, clinical, and philosophical factors that predict the use of alternative healthcare therapies.
A written survey was administered to N=1035 individuals randomly selected from a nationwide panel in the United States (69% response rate).
Multiple logistic regression was conducted to test hypotheses regarding dissatisfaction with conventional medicine, personal autonomy, congruence with personal beliefs, and health status predicting alternative therapy use in the past year.
Alternative healthcare use was predicted by higher education (OR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1-1.3), poorer health status (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.1-1.5), holistic health orientation (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1-1.9), and transformational life experiences (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.3-2.5).
Specific chronic conditions significantly increased use: anxiety (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.6-6.0), back problems (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.7-3.2), chronic pain (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.1-3.5), and urinary tract problems (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.3-3.5).
Dissatisfaction with conventional medicine did not predict alternative therapy use, and only 4.4% of participants reported relying primarily on alternative treatments.

Cite This Study

John A. Astin (1998) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69ffd29b6018b8d0892d9943 https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.279.19.1548

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May 20, 1998JAMA

Why Patients Use Alternative Medicine

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

JAJohn A. AstinUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Survey study finds alternative medicine adoption correlates with personal values and chronic symptoms in adults, indicating philosophical alignment drives usage rather than dissatisfaction.

Key Points

To evaluate demographic, clinical, and philosophical factors that predict the use of alternative healthcare therapies.
A written survey was administered to N=1035 individuals randomly selected from a nationwide panel in the United States (69% response rate).
Multiple logistic regression was conducted to test hypotheses regarding dissatisfaction with conventional medicine, personal autonomy, congruence with personal beliefs, and health status predicting alternative therapy use in the past year.
Alternative healthcare use was predicted by higher education (OR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1-1.3), poorer health status (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.1-1.5), holistic health orientation (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1-1.9), and transformational life experiences (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.3-2.5).
Specific chronic conditions significantly increased use: anxiety (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.6-6.0), back problems (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.7-3.2), chronic pain (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.1-3.5), and urinary tract problems (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.3-3.5).
Dissatisfaction with conventional medicine did not predict alternative therapy use, and only 4.4% of participants reported relying primarily on alternative treatments.

Cite This Study

John A. Astin (1998) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69ffd29b6018b8d0892d9943 https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.279.19.1548

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