title: Complementary and alternative medicine use in England: results from a national survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In many countries, recent data on the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are available. However, in England, there is a paucity of such data. We sought to determine the prevalence and predictors of CAM use in England.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were obtained from the Health Survey for England 2005, a national household survey that included questions on CAM use. We used binary logistic regression modelling to explore whether demographic, health and lifestyle factors predict CAM use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data were available for 7630 respondents (household response rate 71%). Lifetime and 12-month prevalence of CAM use were 44.0% and 26.3% respectively; 12.1% had consulted a practitioner in the preceding 12 months. Massage, aromatherapy and acupuncture were the most commonly used therapies. Twenty-nine percent of respondents taking prescription drugs had used CAM in the last 12 months. Women (OR 0.491, 95% CI: 0.419, 0.577), university educated respondents (OR 1.296, 95% CI: 1.088, 1.544), those suffering from anxiety or depression (OR 1.341, 95% CI: 1.074, 1.674), people with poorer mental health (on GHQ: OR 1.062, 95% CI 1.026, 1.100) and lower levels of perceived social support (1.047, 95% CI: 1.008, 1.088), people consuming ≥ 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day (OR 1.327, 95% CI: 1.124, 1.567) were significantly more likely to use CAM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Complementary and alternative medicine use in England remains substantial, even amongst those taking prescription drugs. These data serve as a valuable reminder to medical practitioners to ask patients about CAM use and should be routinely collected to facilitate prioritisation of the research agenda in CAM.
authors.affiliation: Peninsula Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.affiliation: Peninsula Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.affiliation: Peninsula Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wider
authors.affiliation: Peninsula Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.affiliation: Peninsula Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.affiliation: Peninsula Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Terry
authors.affiliation: Peninsula Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ernst
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires