title: Multiple interacting factors corresponding to repetitive use of complementary and alternative medicine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the factors correlating with repetitive use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2006, a community-based epidemiological survey was conducted in Taiwan. A total of 2457 participants (1237 men and 1220 women) aged 18 and over participated in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From the application of regression tree analysis and the Health Belief Model, we have noticed the following findings. First, demand motive was the most dominant discriminator factor for the repetitive use of CAM. Second-layer discriminators were evaluated on the basis of action benefits and barriers, as well as sources of action information. Another predominant factor is the heterogeneity of individual background. When participants used CAM for treatment of illness, their household income was ≥ 1000 US dollars per month, they had past experience of western medicine seeking without effects and aged between 30 and 60 years, the predicted mean values for all types of CAM use is 5.62 (the highest). By contrast, when participants used CAM for maintenance of health, their household income was <2000 US dollars per month, they are male, with moderate or good self-rated health who had less than 9 education years, the predicted mean values for all types of CAM use is 1.36 (the lowest).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Upon the above components, it assists us to understand the multiple interactive reasons on people's repetitive use of CAM. It also provides essential information for specific CAM issues. Furthermore, from the different perspectives; it stimulates the thoughts for the future medical care projects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shiow-Ing
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Pesus
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Mei-Li
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jeen Hsiu
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Mei-Ling
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Kuan-Chia
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004522:Educational Status; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult