P04.26
Purpose: Evidence suggests that specific complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) modalities may be useful in addressing gastrointestinal (GI) conditions. However, the overall patterns of CAM use for GI conditions remains unknown. We sought to elucidate the prevalence and patterns of CAM use among U.S. adults with GI conditions.
Methods: We used the 2012 National Health Interview Survey (n=34,525), a nationally representative survey of the civilian, non-institutionalized U.S. population, to estimate the prevalence of CAM use among adults with GI conditions (abdominal pain, acid reflux/heartburn, digestive allergy, liver condition, nausea and/or vomiting, stomach or intestinal illness, ulcer). We also examined perceived helpfulness of CAM therapies, disclosure of use to health care providers, and out-of-pocket costs. We weighted prevalence estimates, to reflect the complex sampling design, using SAS. Logistic regression was used to model factors associated with CAM use.
Results: Of 13,505 respondents with an acute or chronic GI condition in the past year, 42% (n=5629) used CAM in the past year and 3% (n=407) used at least one CAM modality to address a GI condition. The top 3 modalities specifically used to address GI conditions were natural products (80%, most commonly probiotics, fish oil, and digestive enzymes), mind body therapies (50%), and manipulative therapies (41%). Use of CAM modalities to address GI conditions helped “a great deal” (59%) and made it easier to cope with health problems (51%). Respondents told their health care provider about use of these therapies 68% of the time. Additional analyses will report on dollars spent and explore sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics associated with CAM use for GI conditions.
Conclusion: CAM is used by nearly half of the 92 million Americans with GI conditions. The most common therapies used for GI conditions are natural products, mind body, and manipulative therapies. The majority who use CAM for GI conditions find it helpful.
Contact: Michelle Dossett, mdossett@bidmc.harvard.edu
