title: Complementary and alternative medicine use in African Americans with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Racial/ethnic differences with regard to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use have been reported in the US. However, specific details of CAM use by African Americans with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are lacking.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from African Americans with RA enrolled in a multicenter registry regarding the use of CAM, including food supplements, topical applications, activities, and alternative care providers. Factors associated with CAM use by sex and disease duration were assessed using t-test, Wilcoxon's rank sum test, chi-square test, and logistic regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 855 participants, 85% were women and mean age at enrollment was 54 years. Overall, ever using any of the CAM treatments, activities, and providers was 95%, 98%, and 51%, respectively (median of 3 for number of treatments, median of 5 for activities, and median of 1 for providers). Those with longer disease duration (>2 years) were significantly more likely (odds ratio ≥2.0, P < 0.05) to use raisins soaked in vodka/gin, to take fish oils, or to drink alcoholic beverages for RA treatment than those with early disease. As compared to men, women were significantly (P < 0.05) more likely to pray/attend church, write in a journal, and use biofeedback, but were less likely to smoke tobacco or topically apply household oils for treatment of RA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CAM use was highly prevalent in this cohort, even in individuals with early disease. Health care providers need to be aware of CAM use as some treatments may potentially have interactions with conventional medicines. This could be important within this cohort of African Americans, where racial disparities are known to affect access to conventional care.
authors: University of Alabama at, Birmingham.
authors: Ashutosh
authors: A
authors: Tamhane
authors: Gerald
authors: G
authors: McGwin
authors: David T
authors: DT
authors: Redden
authors: Laura B
authors: LB
authors: Hughes
authors: Elizabeth E
authors: EE
authors: Brown
authors: Andrew O
authors: AO
authors: Westfall
authors: Doyt L
authors: DL
authors: Conn
authors: Beth L
authors: BL
authors: Jonas
authors: Edwin A
authors: EA
authors: Smith
authors: Richard D
authors: RD
authors: Brasington
authors: Larry W
authors: LW
authors: Moreland
authors: S Louis
authors: SL
authors: Bridges
authors: Leigh F
authors: LF
authors: Callahan
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012042:Registries; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
references: Med J Aust. 1985 Nov 25;143(11):516-8
references: 4069052
references: J Pain Symptom Manage. 1997 Feb;13(2):83-9
references: 9095565
references: HSS J. 2010 Feb;6(1):108-11
references: 19784703
references: Prev Chronic Dis. 2004 Oct;1(4):A12
references: 15670444
references: Am J Public Health. 1991 Apr;81(4):439-42
references: 2003620
references: Prev Chronic Dis. 2009 Apr;6(2):A44
references: 19288987
references: N Engl J Med. 1997 Sep 18;337(12):825-7
references: 9297113
references: Med Care. 2003 Nov;41(11):1233-9
references: 14583686
references: Arthritis Rheum. 2001 Aug;45(4):398-403
references: 11501729
references: Adv Data. 2004 May 27;(343):1-19
references: 15188733
references: Rheumatology (Oxford). 2011 Sep;50(9):1672-83
references: 21652584
references: Arthritis Care Res. 1996 Oct;9(5):384-90
references: 8997928
references: N Engl J Med. 1999 Oct 7;341(15):1156; author reply 1156-7
references: 10515760
references: Arthritis Rheum. 1998 May;41(5):778-99
references: 9588729
references: Rheumatol Int. 2010 Mar;30(5):571-86
references: 19876631
references: Ann Intern Med. 1999 Sep 21;131(6):409-16
references: 10498556
references: Spine J. 2004 Jan-Feb;4(1):56-63
references: 14749194
references: Clin Rheumatol. 2001;20(3):192-6
references: 11434472
references: Chiropr Osteopat. 2007 Jan 22;15:2
references: 17241465
references: Arch Fam Med. 2000 Feb;9(2):143-9
references: 10693731
references: N Engl J Med. 1998 Sep 17;339(12):846-7
references: 9750078
references: Clin J Pain. 2007 Nov-Dec;23(9):744-9
references: 18075399
references: N Engl J Med. 1993 Jan 28;328(4):246-52
references: 8418405
references: J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2011 Feb;22(1):296-310
references: 21317523
references: JAMA. 1998 May 20;279(19):1548-53
references: 9605899
references: JAMA. 1998 Nov 11;280(18):1569-75
references: 9820257
references: Arthritis Rheum. 1988 Mar;31(3):315-24
references: 3358796
references: Pain. 2007 May;129(1-2):210-23
references: 17335973
references: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2000 Jan;55(1):M4-9
references: 10719766
references: Natl Health Stat Report. 2008 Dec 10;(12):1-23
references: 19361005
references: Semin Arthritis Rheum. 1993 Oct;23(2 Suppl 1):68-73
references: 8278821
references: Med Care. 2002 Apr;40(4):353-8
references: 12021691
references: J Clin Rheumatol. 2007 Feb;13(1):3-11
references: 17278941
references: N Engl J Med. 1998 Sep 17;339(12):839-41
references: 9738094
references: Arthritis Rheum. 2005 Oct 15;53(5):748-55
references: 16208669