title: Complementary/alternative therapies use in older women with arthritis: Information sources and factors influencing dialog with health care providers.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to describe the information sources older women with arthritis use to make decisions about complementary/alternative therapies (C/AT), and factors that influence C/AT dialog with their HCP. The purposive sample included 50 community-dwelling older women (mean age = 77.8, SD = 7.6, range 66-101) who were using C/AT for arthritis management. Eight focus groups were conducted. Qualitative data were analyzed using both manual and computer-based (Atlas.ti) methods. Participants used a variety of C/AT for arthritis management. Most did not seek C/AT information from their health care provider (HCP) but primarily relied on family and friends as resources. Common themes that influenced C/AT dialog included collaborative patient relationship with HCP, HCP unsupportive attitudes toward C/AT and lack of C/AT knowledge, and time-limited clinic visits. Clinical implications include fostering shared decision making clinical relationships, increasing HCP knowledge about C/AT, initiating C/AT dialog and offering credible C/AT information sources.
authors.affiliation: St. Catherine University, 601 25th Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA. Electronic address: ccgeisler@stkate.edu.
authors.forename: Carol C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Geisler
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Corjena K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Cheung
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001168:Arthritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D003142:Communication; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods*; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008490:Medical Informatics; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014481:United States
keywords: Arthritis; CAM; Communication; Elderly women; Information sources; Shared decision making