Complementary and alternative medicine use among midlife women for reasons including menopause in the United States
- 1 March 2007
- journal article
- Published by Wolters Kluwer Health in Menopause
- Vol. 14 (2), 300-307
- https://doi.org/10.1097/01.gme.0000232031.84788.57
Abstract
The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been examined previously for midlife women only in regional studies. The purpose of this study was to obtain national estimates of CAM use. Data were obtained from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey, which included a CAM supplementary questionnaire. The response rate was 74%. The analysis included 3,621 female respondents between 45 and 57 years of age who had answered all of the relevant questions. SUDAAN software was used to account for the complex sampling design. Forty-five percent of women 45 to 57 years of age had used some form of CAM within the last 12 months. Approximately 25% used biologics (e.g., herbs) or mind-body (e.g., biofeedback) modalities, whereas only 15% used body work (massage and chiropractic medicine). Use did not vary by age, but white race, higher education, and residence in the West were associated with increased use. Only 45% of CAM users mentioned its use to a medical provider. The most cited reason for using CAM involved treatment of pain, with only 3% mentioning menopause. However, the odds for use of CAM were almost twice as high for women with menopausal symptoms in the past year compared with women with no symptoms (odds ratio: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.6-2.2). CAM use among midlife U.S. women is high, although CAM is not used specifically for menopausal concerns. These data will be useful as a benchmark of the use of CAM as use of conventional menopause therapies are influenced by the Women's Health Initiative results.Keywords
This publication has 22 references indexed in Scilit:
- Menopausal symptoms after cessation of hormone replacement therapyMaturitas, 2006
- Integrative Therapies for MenopauseSouthern Medical Journal, 2005
- Use of complementary and alternative medicine among American womenWomen's Health Issues, 2005
- The role of complementary and alternative medicine in management of menopausal symptomsEndocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America, 2004
- Effects of Conjugated Equine Estrogen in Postmenopausal Women With HysterectomyJAMA, 2004
- National Use of Postmenopausal Hormone TherapyJAMA, 2004
- Risks and Benefits of Estrogen Plus Progestin in Healthy Postmenopausal Women: Principal Results From the Women's Health Initiative Randomized Controlled TrialJAMA, 2002
- Demographic and Health-Related Correlates of Visits to Complementary and Alternative Medical ProvidersMedical Care, 2001
- Population-Based Survey of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Usage, Patient Satisfaction, and Physician InvolvementSouthern Medical Journal, 2000
- Trends in Alternative Medicine Use in the United States, 1990-1997JAMA, 1998