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Nutrition, Vitamins & Supplements for Seniors
Boomers, Senior Citizens Do Not Discuss Alternative
Medicine with Doctors
Most say it is because their physicians never asked
January 18, 2007 - In spite of the high use of
complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among people age 50 or
older, 69 percent of those who use CAM do not talk to their doctors
about it, according to a new survey conducted by AARP and the National
Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) at the
National Institutes of Health. The survey examined conversations between
patients and their physicians regarding CAM use.
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CAM is a group of diverse medical and health care
systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be
part of conventional medicine. It includes such products and practices
as herbal supplements, meditation, homeopathy, and acupuncture.
Differences in communication practices across
demographic groups were also found. Women were more likely than men to
have discussed CAM use (26 percent versus 16 percent) and what types of
therapies to use (70 percent versus 51 percent). In addition, people
with incomes of $75,000 or more (31 percent) or $25,000 to $49,999 (25
percent) frequently discussed CAM use with doctors.
“An open dialogue between consumers and their
physicians is critical to ensuring safe and appropriate integrated
care,” said Margaret A. Chesney, Ph.D., NCCAM’s Deputy Director. “As the
Federal Government’s lead agency for scientific research on CAM, NCCAM
is especially committed to educating both consumers and health care
providers about the importance of discussing the use of CAM and
providing evidence-based information to help with health care
decision-making.”
This telephone survey, administered to a nationally
representative group of 1,559 people age 50 or older, revealed some
reasons why doctor-patient dialogue is lacking.
Respondents most often did not discuss their CAM
use with doctors because –
● the physicians never asked (42 percent);
● they did not know that they should (30 percent); or
● there was not enough time during the office visit (19 percent).
Men who had seen a doctor were more likely than
women not to have discussed CAM because their doctors never asked (46
percent versus 38 percent).
Other highlights from the survey report include:
Dialogue Topics
● The topics most often discussed with doctors
were the effectiveness of a CAM therapy (67 percent); what to use (64
percent); how a CAM therapy might interact with other medications or
treatments received (60 percent); advice on whether to pursue a CAM
therapy (60 percent); and safety of a CAM therapy (57 percent).
Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medication Use
● Nearly three-fourths of respondents said they
take one or more prescription medications; in addition, 59 percent of
respondents said they take one or more over-the-counter medications.
Twenty percent of respondents reported taking more than five
prescription medications.
● The high number of prescription and
over-the-counter medications used by this group underscores the need for
consumers and physicians to discuss all therapies, including CAM, to
ensure safe, integrated care.
Tips for Discussing CAM with Your Doctor:
● If you are considering a CAM therapy, ask your
physician about its safety, effectiveness, and possible interactions
with medications (prescription and non-prescription).
● Tell your doctor about all therapies or
treatments including over-the-counter and prescription medicines as well
as herbal and dietary supplements.
● When completing patient history forms, be sure
to include all therapies and treatments you use. Make a list in advance.
“We know that people 50 and older tend to be high
users of complementary and alternative medicine, but this study was the
first to explore gaps in communications regarding the use of CAM between
patients and their physicians,” said Cheryl Matheis, AARP Director of
Health Strategies. “Communication is important to ensure the wise use of
all conventional and CAM therapies.”
Editor’s Notes:
For a complete copy of the survey report, visit
http://www.aarp.org/research/health/prevention/cam_2007.html.
CAM Resources:
NCCAM:
www.nccam.nih.gov/health/
AARP:
CAM Section
NIH Medline Plus –
Alternative Medicine
NIH Medline Plus –
Herbs and Supplements
NIH Office of Dietary Supplements:
dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/
NCI Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine:
www.cancer.gov/cam/
NIA Age Page on Dietary Supplements:
www.niapublications.org/agepages/supplements.asp
The National Center for Complementary and
Alternative Medicine’s mission is to explore complementary and
alternative medical practices in the context of rigorous science, train
CAM researchers, and disseminate authoritative information to the public
and professionals. For additional information, call NCCAM’s
Clearinghouse toll free at 1-888-644-6226, or visit
www.nccam.nih.gov.
AARP says, “AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan
membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice
and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and
society as a whole. We produce AARP The Magazine, published bimonthly;
AARP Bulletin, our monthly newspaper; AARP Segunda Juventud, our
bimonthly magazine in Spanish and English; NRTA Live & Learn, our
quarterly newsletter for 50+ educators; and our website,
AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides
security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with
support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have
staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico,
and the U.S. Virgin Islands.”
The National Institutes of Health(NIH) — The
Nation's Medical Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and Centers
and is a component of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services.
It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic,
clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the
causes, treatments and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more
information about NIH and its programs, visit
http://www.nih.gov.
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