Use of complementary and alternative medicine among Dominican emergency department patients

This small, pilot study examined presenting complaint, brief health history , use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and sociodemographic characteristics, among patients attending the emergency department (ED) of a large urban hospital. The sample (n = 50) was primarily Dominican and of low socioeconomic status. Almost half had used CAM for their presenting co mplaint or another health problem during the past year, most commonly in th e form of medicinal plants made into herbal teas. CAM users were more likel y to be female, longer-term residents of the United States, and to have als o used religious practices for health problems, Subjects who had used CAM f or any problem other than the presenting complaint during the past year rat ed its effectiveness higher than subjects who had used CAM for their presen ting complaint. In conclusion, it is likely that a significant proportion o f Dominican ED patients use CAM, suggesting that they should be asked about their CAM use during triage. Copyright (C) 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.