Predictors of alternative medicine use by multiple sclerosis patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency of alternative medicine use among multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, and the factors which predict such use.


METHODS
We examined 20778 MS patients enrolled in the North American Research Consortium on Multiple Sclerosis (NARCOMS) Patient Registry, residing in the USA. We used demographic and clinical data to create multivariate logistic regression models for i) lifetime use of any alternative medicine, ii) lifetime use of any alternative provider (AP), and iii) lifetime use of each of the three most common AP.


RESULTS
20387 patients provided data regarding alternative medicine use. Lifetime use of any alternative medicine was 54% and current use was 30%. Chiropractors (51%), massage therapists (34%), and nutritionists (24%) were the most commonly used AP. In all five models, use of alternative medicine was most strongly predicted by use of a conventional provider, and more modestly by disease factors indicating more severe or prolonged disease. Predictive power of the models was poor (c-index = 0.62-0.68), despite good fits for the data.


CONCLUSIONS
Demographic factors play only a minimal role in predicting the use of alternative medicine in this MS population while disease factors play a slightly stronger role. There must be other factors involved that may include accessibility, social acceptability and cultural factors. Given the frequency of alternative medicine use by this patient population, further characterization of these factors is important.
Mellen Center for MS Treatment and Research, U10, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA. marrier@ccf.org
Ruth Ann
RA
Marrie
Olympia
O
Hadjimichael
Timothy
T
Vollmer
D000328:Adult; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000628:therapy*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012042:Registries