title: Use of natural medicines in the Danish population: a national cross-sectional survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of natural medicines is widespread and increasing. In addition, natural medicine use is based primarily on individual's decisions without counseling from health professionals. Unlike with conventional medicines, it is not possible to evaluate sales statistics and prescription records to determine how much natural medicine is being used and by whom. Self-reporting is the only method available for investigating use of these products.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the use of natural medicines with respect to sociodemographic factors, health status, and conventional drug therapy in a general national population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were derived from the Danish Health and Morbidity Survey 2000. A representative sample of the Danish population (N = 16 690) was interviewed face-to-face. The association between use of natural medicines within the past 14 days and age, education, health status, and conventional medicine use was analyzed by logistic regression. All analyses were performed separately for each gender.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen percent of the sample population had taken natural medicines within the past 14 days. Use was most prevalent among women and increased with age, but decreased again in the oldest age group (> or = 80 y). Respondents with poor health were the greatest consumers of natural medicines. Use was not associated with educational level and conventional drug therapy. Among conventional medicine users, 14% and 22% of men and women, respectively, used natural medicines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated that natural medicine use is common and widespread health behavior in all strata of the population and should not be regarded as an alternative to conventional medicine. Clinicians should ask patients about natural medicine use to avoid interactions with conventional drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Pharmacy, Danish University of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark. mwn@dfuni.dk
authors.forename: Merete Willemoes
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Ebba H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Niels K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004363:Drug Utilization; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D001685:Biological Factors