Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use by african american (AA) and caucasian american (CA) older adults in a rural setting: a descriptive, comparative study

Abstract

BackgroundThe use of CAM is at an all time high. There is very little research that compares the use of CAM in elders by ethnicity in rural settings. The purpose of the study was to determine if there was a difference between African American and Caucasian American rural elders on use of CAM and self-reported satisfaction with CAM.MethodsThe design was a descriptive, comparative study of 183 elders who reported the number of CAM used and satisfaction with CAM. A convenience sample was recruited through community service organizations in the state of Mississippi. The availability of elders through the support groups, sampling bias, subject effect, and self-report were limitations of the study.ResultsThe commonest examples of CAM used by rural elders were prayer, vitamins, exercise, meditation, herbs, chiropractic medicine, glucosamine, and music therapy. Significant findings on SES and marital status were calculated. Differences on ethnicity and demographic variables were significant for age, education, and the use of glucosamine.ConclusionsHealth care providers must be aware that elders are using CAM and are satisfied with their use. Identifying different uses of CAM by ethnicity is important for health care practitioners, impacting how health care is provided.

Attributes of Non-Hispanic Blacks That Use Chiropractic Health Care: A Survey of Patients in Texas and Louisiana

“…2-7,9,15,16,26-29 Some researchers have attributed this difference to the perception of discrepancies of health care treatment by blacks, lower average educational levels of blacks compared to whites, and the lack of accessibility to DC s in black communities. 2,4,20,21,30 In this study, researchers found that non-Hispanic black patients that do use chiropractic services have a positive outlook on doctor-patient interactions with their DC, they often are college graduates, and they live within 30 minutes of their DC. In addition, researchers found that non-Hispanic black women marginally use chiropractic services more often than men, which is in congruence with existing CAM research overall.…”

“…[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] In one study, for example, Barnes et al 10 demonstrated that 43.1% of white adults sought out CAM treatments in comparison to 25.5% of blacks. Furthermore, there is minimal research that provides an explanation as to why blacks use CAM less often.…”

“…[2][3][4][5][6][7]9,15,16,[26][27][28][29] In many instances, whites used chiropractic at least twice as often as blacks. 2,4,6,7,9,15,16,26,29 Some have attributed this difference to the perception of discrepancies of health care treatment by blacks, lower average educational levels of blacks compared to whites, and the lack of accessibility to doctors of chiropractic (DCs) in black communities. 2,4,20,21,30 Very little information currently exists in the literature that describes use of chiropractic by non-Hispanic black patients.…”

“…2,4,6,7,9,15,16,26,29 Some have attributed this difference to the perception of discrepancies of health care treatment by blacks, lower average educational levels of blacks compared to whites, and the lack of accessibility to doctors of chiropractic (DCs) in black communities. 2,4,20,21,30 Very little information currently exists in the literature that describes use of chiropractic by non-Hispanic black patients. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop a profile of and to gain insight to non-Hispanic black patients' utilization of chiropractic services.…”

Indigenous Healing Practices among Rural Elderly African Americans

“…Even in the United States, use of According to Cuellar, Aycock, Cahill, and Ford (2003), cultural diversity and the health care practices of specific cultures can shape the system of health care in a country. They assert that the assumption that conventional medical practice is the choice for all cultures is incorrect and the inclusion of indigenous healing practices or folk remedies is often ignored or not discussed.…”