How does acculturation affect the use of complementary and alternative medicine providers among Mexican- and Asian-Americans?
Researchers have found that immigrants in the United States gradually relinquish cultural practices and adopt health behaviors similar to native born individuals as they acculturate. Few studies have looked at acculturation and Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) use, particularly ethnic forms of CAM. This study uses data from the 2001 California Health Interview Survey-Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CHIS-CAM) supplement to estimate the prevalence of CAM provider use among Mexican- and Asian- Americans and examine the relationship of acculturation on use. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to predict the probability of provider use based on socio-demographic variables, health status and acculturation. Mexican- and Asian- Americans who have spent more time in the US were more likely to use chiropractors or massage therapists compared to no CAM provider. Both groups were less likely to use ethnic-specific CAM providers with more time in the US compared to chiropractors or massage therapists.
Lee
Jennifer H
JH
Department of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. jen.lee@ucla.edu
Goldstein
Michael S
MS
Brown
E Richard
ER
Ballard-Barbash
Rachel
R
D000069:Acculturation; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001213:Asian / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002140:California; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D026882:Manipulation, Chiropractic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008405:Massage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D015995:Prevalence; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult