title: Use of complementary and alternative therapies by rural African Americans with type 2 diabetes.
abstract: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes among non-Hispanic African American adults aged 20 years and older is 11.4%, compared to 8.4% non-Hispanic whites. Given the high rate of diabetes in this population, it is important to determine whether African Americans use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and if so, what kind. Such information is important to healthcare professionals who prescribe therapies and make self-care recommendations to those with diabetes. The use of CAM by African Americans with diabetes has not been well studied, however, particularly among those living in rural areas. This descriptive study was conducted in 2 rural communities in Central Virginia to explore the use of CAM therapies and the role of religion and spirituality in dealing with diabetes among adult African Americans with type 2 diabetes. Sixty-eight participants attended 1 of 8 focus group sessions in various community settings and described their use of alternative therapies. According to these sessions, the most common alternative therapies used are prayer, diet-based therapies, and natural products. The participants' descriptions enhance our understanding of CAM use among rural African Americans with diabetes.
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia School of Nursing, Charlottesville, USA.
authors.forename: Randy A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Utz
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wenzel
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Steeves
authors.forename: Ivora
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hinton
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Norman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Oliver
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy*; D029221:Faith Healing; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D033262:Narration; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome