USE OF ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES BY A LOW-INCOME POPULATION

Patients in a family health center clinic were surveyed about their us e of alternative/complementary medicine. These were mostly low-income individuals on Medicaid. The aim was to estimate prevalence and patter ns of use of medically unconventional therapies such as chiropractic, homeopathy, and acupuncture in this population. Nearly two hundred pat ients (N=199) filled out questionnaires inquiring about medical condit ions and illnesses, personal health habits (physical activity, tobacco smoking, alcohol intake, etc.), and use of preventive measures or the rapies that are neither taught widely in US medical schools nor genera lly available in US hospitals, and which we refer to as 'alternative' therapies(ATs). The term 'alternative' is not intended to imply that A Ts are necessarily chosen to replace, rather than to be used in combin ation with standard treatments, although that may indeed be so in spec ific cases. Twenty-nine percent of respondents (58/199) reported using at least one type of AT, as defined for the purposes of the survey. F requency of use varied somewhat, with greatest AT use reported by thos e over 29 years of age with more education and higher incomes (p<0.10, defined as X-2 tests at p<0.10). While no significant differences wer e found between AT users and nonusers with respect to exercise partici pation, alcohol intake or smoking, there was a difference with respect to the reporting of at least one medical condition (p<0.01). Among th ose who have used ATs, 90% reported more than one medical condition. O f those reporting no AT use, 70% indicated only a single medical condi tion for which they had sought treatment. In conclusion, use of altern ative therapy (AT) appears to be common in all socio-economic groups, although AT use is apparently slightly less among low-income persons t han in the general population. It is therefore important for physician s and other medical providers to be aware that their patients may be u sing ATs. Obviously, such practices should be taken into account in ca se management.