title: Age, ethnicity, and use of complementary and alternative medicine in health self-management.
abstract: Drawing on models of health self-management, we develop hypotheses that age and ethnicity will modify associations among indicators ofpoor health and use of complementary and alternative medicine. These hypotheses are evaluated using the 2002 National Health Interview Survey with the Alternative Health Supplement. Results produced partial support for hypotheses that the effects of ailments on use of complementary and alternative medicine differ by age. Results suggest that ailments such as bodily pain, chronic conditions, and functional impairment are associated with use of complementary and alternative medicine among midlife and younger adults, but these associations are generally attenuated among older adults. Hypothesized ethnic differences received weak support. These findings suggest that different interpretations of ailments and appropriate responses may explain why complementary and alternative medicine is used by fewer older adults. The results also highlight the significance of social and cultural factors in understanding patterns of complementary and alternative medicine use in the adult population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1084, USA. grzywacz@wfubmc.edu
authors.forename: Joseph G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Grzywacz
authors.forename: Cynthia K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Suerken
authors.forename: Rebecca H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Neiberg
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Ronny A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Sara A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Quandt
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Arcury
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003625:Data Collection; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012648:Self Care; D014481:United States