title: Pain control in sickle cell disease patients: use of complementary and alternative medicine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the factors associated with the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as reported by patients attending an adult sickle cell clinic at a tertiary institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted in a university tertiary care adult sickle cell clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult sickle cell patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following Institutional Review Board approval, a questionnaire was administered to patients in a sickle cell clinic to examine their use of CAM for managing pain at home and while admitted to the hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 227 respondents who completed the questionnaire, 92% experienced pain lasting from 6 months to more than 2 years. Two hundred and eight (91.6%) indicated that they have used CAM within the last 6 months to control pain. The frequency of CAMs use was higher among females, singles, those with more education, and higher household income.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that a substantial majority of sickle cell patients live with pain on a regular basis and that there is substantial CAM use in the adult Sickle cell disease population. Being female and having a high school or higher education were significantly correlated with the use of CAM in sickle cell patients. A variety of CAM therapies are used, with the most common being prayer.
authors: School of Social Work, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan, USA.
authors: Wendy E
authors: WE
authors: Thompson
authors: Ike
authors: I
authors: Eriator
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Chronic Pain; Complementary Alternative Methods; Coping with Pain; Sickle Cell Disease