Use of conventional and nonconventional treatments for osteoarthritis in the family medicine setting.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to examine: (a) the extent to which patients report having used conventional and nonconventional treatments for osteoarthritis in family medicine settings and (b) how patient characteristics are related to the use of these treatments.


METHODS
A survey was sent to 2,178 patients with arthritis. The current analysis focuses on the 557 patients with osteoarthritis. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the data.


RESULTS
Sixty-three percent of patients reported the use of conventional and unconventional therapies. White patients and patients experiencing greater pain were more likely to report the use of conventional therapies. Female, married, and more educated patients, and persons reporting more pain and greater difficulty sleeping were significantly more likely to report the use of nonconventional therapies.


CONCLUSIONS
Providers should make sure to ask patients about all treatments they are using for their osteoarthritis.
Sleath
Betsy
B
Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7590, USA. bsleath@email.unc.edu
Cahoon
William D
WD
Sloane
Philip D
PD
Callahan
Leigh F
LF
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D003625:Data Collection; D020920:Dyssomnias; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012646:Self Administration; D012651:Self Medication; D012737:Sex Factors; D018454:Spouses
D000700:Analgesics