|
E-mail this page to a friend!
Almost 70 Percent of
Older Adults Use Alternative Medicine
April 9, 2005 - Nearly three out of every
four adults over age 50 use some kind of alternative medicine, such as
acupuncture and herbal medicine, according to a new study.
While previous research has been limited,
this appears to be a higher rate than occurs within the general
population, said
Gong-Soog Hong, co-author of the study and professor of
consumer sciences at Ohio State
University.
This study found that 71 percent of older
adults used some form of alternative medicine in 2000. A study done in
2002, found a lower rate -- about 62 percent among all adults.
The percentage of older adults who used
alternative medicine was higher than I expected, Hong said.
Many types of alternative medicine have
not been tested for safety and effectiveness, and yet a large majority
of older adults are using them. This tells us there is a serious need
for more consumer education.
Of those who described their health as poor, 65 percent said
they used some form of alternative medicine they considered
preventive or curative a higher percentage than among any
other group.
|
Hong conducted the study with Catherine
Montalto, associate professor, and Vibha Bhargava, a graduate student,
both in consumer sciences at Ohio State. They presented their research
April 9 in Columbus at the annual meeting of the
American Council on Consumer Interests.
The researchers used data from the
2000 Health and Retirement
Survey, conducted by the
University of Michigan and funded mainly by the
National Institute on Aging. The
survey included 848 respondents aged 50 and over.
The survey asked about the use of six
types of alternative medicine: chiropractor, acupuncture, massage
therapy, breathing exercises, herbal medicine, and meditation.
The most commonly used form of
alternative medicine was chiropractor, which about 43 percent of
respondents had used. Acupuncture was the least used.
Some of the results will need more
research to explain, Hong said.
For example, the findings showed Blacks,
widows, and more religious people all tended to use alternative medicine
more often than did other older adults.
Other results were more readily
understandable.
Respondents were more likely to use
alternative medicine if they said they were in poor health and if they
reported more problems with daily activities, such as carrying
groceries, eating or bathing.
Of those who described their health as
poor, 65 percent said they used some form of alternative medicine they
considered preventive or curative a higher percentage than among any
other group. And about 63 percent of respondents who said they were not
satisfied with their health care also tried alternative therapies
classified as preventive or curative.
Older adults tend to have more chronic
illnesses, and conventional medicine doesnt always solve their
problems, Hong said.
The aches and pains that often come with
age may also send more older adults to search for different kinds of
treatments.
Treatment of chronic pain is very
difficult, she said. People who are living with pain will try
everything possible to alleviate it. Those taking a holistic approach
toward life may try something else such as alternative medicine.
However, the exact reasons why these
older adults used alternative medicine is not known from this research
and needs further study, Hong said. The fact that those who were less
satisfied with their health care were more likely to use alternative
medicine does suggest some people have issues with the current state of
conventional health care.
Hong said the medical establishment has
begun studying alternative medicine and has begun to accept some forms
of non-traditional medicine. But more study needs to be done before they
are generally accepted.
Many people are using herbal medicines
or massage therapy or other treatments based on what they read in
popular magazines or see on television, Hong said.
More scientific research is needed to
examine the safety and effectiveness of alternative medicines,
especially about possible interaction effects when they are used along
with prescription drugs.
Hong and her colleagues are working on a
new study that will take a more comprehensive look at what alternative
medicines people are using and how often they are using them.
Alternative medicine provides an
important option in response to the need for health care in the United
States, Hong said. We need to know more about who is using alternative
medicine and ensuring that they are educated about the medicines and
therapies they are using.
Click to More Senior News on the
Front Page
Copyright: SeniorJournal.com |
