title: Medical skepticism and complementary therapy use among older rural African-Americans and Whites.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study documents demographic, health, and complementary therapy (CT) correlates of medical skepticism among rural older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Older (≥65 years) African Americans and Whites in rural North Carolina (N=198) were interviewed. Medical skepticism was assessed using the four items from the Medical Expenditure Survey. Bivariate associations between medical skepticism and demographic and health characteristics and CT use were assessed, and independent effects on CT use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Positive responses to medical skepticism questions ranged from 19.7% (can overcome illness without help) to 59.6% (believes own behavior determines their health). Medical skepticism indicators were associated with few demographic and health characteristics, and one CT category.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows a high degree of medical skepticism among rural older adults, but limited associations with demographic and health characteristics and CT use. Further research is needed to understand relationships of attitudes towards conventional care and CT use in this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston- Salem, NC 27157, USA. rbell@wakehealth.edu
authors.forename: Ronny A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Joseph G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Grzywacz
authors.forename: Sara A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Quandt
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Neiberg
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Ha
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Kathryn P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Altizer
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Arcury
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D044465:White People