Health News
Older Americans Not Discussing Complementary and Alternative MedicineUse with Doctors
May 2nd, 2007
In spite of the high use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)among people age 50 or older, 69 percent of those who use CAM do not talk totheir doctors about it, according to a new survey conducted by AARP and theNational Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) at theNational Institutes of Health. The survey examined conversations between patients andtheir physicians regarding CAM use.
CAM is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices,and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine.It includes such products and practices as herbal supplements, meditation,homeopathy, and acupuncture.
We know that people 50 and older tend to be high users ofcomplementary and alternative medicine, but this study was the first to explore gapsin communications regarding the use of CAM between patients and their physicians, said Cheryl Matheis, AARP Director of Health Strategies. Communication is important to ensure the wise use of all conventional and CAM therapies.
Differences in communication practices across demographic groups werealso found. Women were more likely than men to have discussed CAM use (26percent versus 16 percent) and what types of therapies to use (70 percent versus51 percent). In addition, people with incomes of $75,000 or more (31percent) or $25,000 to $49,999 (25 percent) frequently discussed CAM use withdoctors.
An open dialogue between consumers and their physicians iscritical to ensuring safe and appropriate integrated care, saidMargaret A. Chesney, Ph.D., NCCAM's Deputy Director. As the FederalGovernment's lead agency for scientific research on CAM, NCCAM is especiallycommitted to educating both consumers and health care providers about theimportance of discussing the use of CAM and providing evidence-based information tohelp with health care decision-making.
This telephone survey, administered to a nationally representativegroup of 1,559 people age 50 or older, revealed some reasons why doctor-patientdialogue is lacking. Respondents most often did not discuss their CAM use withdoctors because the physicians never asked (42 percent); they did not knowthat they should (30 percent); or there was not enough time during the officevisit (19 percent). Interestingly, men who had seen a doctor were more likelythan women not to have discussed CAM because their doctors never asked (46percent versus 38 percent).
Other highlights from the survey report include:
Dialogue Topics
- The topics most often discussed with doctors were theeffectiveness of a CAM therapy (67 percent); what to use (64 percent); how a CAMtherapy might interact with other medications or treatments received (60percent); advice on whether to pursue a CAM therapy (60 percent); and safety of aCAM therapy (57 percent).
Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medication Use
- Nearly three-fourths of respondents said they take one or moreprescription medications; in addition, 59 percent of respondents said they takeone or more over-the-counter medications. Twenty percent of respondentsreported taking more than five prescription medications.
- The high number of prescription and over-the-countermedications used by this group underscores the need for consumers and physicians todiscuss all therapies, including CAM, to ensure safe, integrated care.
Tips for Discussing CAM with Your Doctor:
- If you are considering a CAM therapy, ask your physician aboutits safety, effectiveness, and possible interactions with medications(prescription and non-prescription).
- Tell your doctor about all therapies or treatments includingover-the-counter and prescription medicines as well as herbal and dietary supplements.
- When completing patient history forms, be sure to include alltherapies and treatments you use. Make a list in advance.
CAM Resources:
NCCAM: www.nccam.nih.gov/health/
AARP: www.aarp.org/health/staying_healthy/prevention/complementary_and_
alternative_medicine.html
Medline Plus Alternative Medicine: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alternativemedicine.html
Medline Plus Herbs and Supplements: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/herb_All.html
NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/
NCI Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine: www.cancer.gov/cam/
NIA Age Page on Dietary Supplements: www.niapublications.org/agepages/supplements.asp
Source: National Institutes of Health
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