Journal List > J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs > v.25(1) > 1058339

Park, Song, Ahn, Yang, Lee, and Hyun: The Attitude, Use and Adverse Effects of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Therapies among Vulnerable, Community Dwelling Old Adults

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to obtain information of use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) and any reported adverse effects of them on vulnerable elders in a community.

Methods

1,837 elderly subjects aged 65 or higher with health problems were selected from those who were enrolled in a public health care center and received visiting health management services. A proportional stratified sampling method was used. Data collection was completed by face to face interviews using a structured questionnaire. The descriptive statistics and χ2-test were used to analyze the data.

Results

The prevalence of CAM use last year was 57.5%, and 10.4% of the subjects reported adverse effects of the therapies. The mean score of the subjects' attitudes towards CAM was 4.1±3.44 (range 1~10). The major sources of advice and exposure to CAM therapies were most likely to be from family and friends (72.5%). The primary reason for choosing CAM was to manage symptoms and relieve pain (86.6%).

Conclusion

These findings suggest the need to develop nursing strategies for reducing and preventing adverse effects of CAM use by promoting awareness of using safe and appropriate CAM therapies.

Figures and Tables

Figure 1
Sampling procedure.
jkachn-25-1-g001
Table 1
General and Health-related Characteristics of Subjects (N=1,837)
jkachn-25-1-i001

Missing data were excluded.

Table 2
Attitudes towards CAM (N=1,837)
jkachn-25-1-i002

CAM=complementary and alternative medicine.

Table 3
Utilization Patterns of Use of CAM (N=1,056)
jkachn-25-1-i003

CAM=complementary and alternative medicine.

Users may have used more than one CAM; Multiple choices.

Table 4
Self-reported Adverse-effects of Use of CAM (N=110)
jkachn-25-1-i004

CAM=complementary and alternative medicine.

Multiple choices.

Table 5
The difference of Use of CAM according to General and Health-related Characteristics (N=1,764)
jkachn-25-1-i005

Missing data were excluded.

Notes

This research was supported by Project to structure the folk remedy funded by the Korea Institution of Oriental Medicine (K12210).

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