Complementary/alternative medicine use for arthritis by older women of urban–rural settings

Abstract

Purpose This study described the use of complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) for arthritis management among community‐dwelling older women in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Data sources A descriptive qualitative approach using focus group method was employed. A purposive sample of 50 women ages 66–101 who managed arthritis with CAM participated in eight semistructured focus groups: rural (n = 22), suburban (n = 17), and urban areas (n = 11). Data were transcribed verbatim. Inductive analytic process and computer software were used for data analysis. Conclusions A wide variety of self‐help CAM were reported. Supplements were the most commonly used CAM across all locations; rural participants reported the greatest variety of CAM use. Physical symptoms, dissatisfaction with conventional medicine, perceived safety and convenience of CAM, and a desire for personal control over one's health motivated CAM use. Most participants did not fully disclose their CAM use to their primary healthcare provider (HCP). Implications for practice Results suggest a strong need for primary HCP to purposely dialogue with their clients on CAM use when designing, organizing, and delivering arthritis care. Information on safe CAM use and greater options for effective arthritis management with CAM are needed. The value of group‐based model for treating arthritis deserves further exploration.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use by Normal Weight, Overweight, and Obese Patients with Arthritis or Other Musculoskeletal Diseases

“…This may be a factor to consider when older women are engaged, while additionally addressing various strategies reported to be more influential to this group when deciding to experiment with CAM. 2 Although our study did not explore the reasons for CAM use, and in light of the high proportions of utilization reported in the current sample, it is important that persons with chronic diseases disclose their use of CAM with their medical providers to avoid any potential counter effects with conventional treatments. This would further ensure the effective management of these potentially debilitating conditions.…”

“…2 Musculoskeletal diseases have also been associated with frequent CAM use. 13,42 Similarly, in the current study, while only 8% of the sample had diagnoses of musculoskeletal diseases, approximately 50% of these reported CAM use compared with 80% among those without such conditions ( p < 0.001).…”

Social network bridging potential and the use of complementary and alternative medicine in later life

“…In this paper, we focus specifically on CAM usage among older adults. For this group – which tends to underreport or completely avoid disclosing use of CAM practices to conventional physicians (Astin, Pelletier, Marie, & Haskell, 2000; Cheung, Geisler, & Sunneberg, 2014) – bridging positions may play an even more important role in legitimizing CAM usage than for others. For one, research shows that older adults use lay consultation networks (e.g., spouses, family and close friends) more often than physicians to talk about health matters (Stoller & Wisniewskim, 2003).…”

Attitudes and Uses of Alternative Medicine by Physicians at a Pediatric Hospital in Mexico

“…The use of CAM as a treatment for different diseases is widely documented, examples include multiple sclerosis, heart disease, asthma, arthritis, skin conditions, among many others, where prevalence of use observed in patients ranges from 38.8% to 80.9% (Nicdao & Ai, 2014;Adams et al, 2014;Babayigit, 2015;Basak, Unver, & Demirkaya, 2014;Bilgili et al, 2014;Cheung, Geisler, & Sunneberg, 2014). There is also evidence that CAM is used in the manner of complementary therapies in situations such as pregnancy, which is often used to control anxiety and stress (Frawley et al, 2014;Mitchell & McCleanb, 2014).…”