title: Gender differences in prevalence and associations for use of CAM in a large population study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Self-reported use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) varies widely from 10% to 75% in the general populations worldwide. When limited to use of a CAM provider 2% to 49% reported use is found. CAM use is believed to be closely associated with socio demographic variables such as gender, age, education, income and health complaints. However, studies have only occasionally differentiated CAM use according to gender. Therefore, the aim of the study presented here is to describe the prevalence of CAM use on the background of gender and to describe the specific characteristics of male and female users in the total Tromsø 6 population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 12,982 men and women aged 30-87 in the municipality of Tromsø, Norway went through a health screening program and completed two self-administered questionnaires in 2007/2008. The questionnaires were developed specifically for the Tromsø study and included questions about life style and health issues in addition to socio demographic variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 33% of the participants reported use of any CAM within the last 12 months, women more often than men (42% and 24%, respectively). When limited to visits to a CAM provider, we found 17% use among women and 8% among men. The relationship between the demographic variables and being a CAM user differed significantly between men and women with regard to age, household income, and marital status. We did not find significant differences between men and women concerning education and self-reported health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings from this study suggest that the prevalence and associations for use of CAM differ between men and women concerning several socio demographic variables (age, education and household income). Neglect of women's health care needs in public health care may contribute to the fact that women to a higher degree than men turn to CAM and CAM products.
authors.affiliation: The National Research Center in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NAFKAM), Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway. agnete.kristoffersen@uit.no.
authors.forename: Agnete E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Kristoffersen
authors.forename: Trine
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stub
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salamonsen
authors.forename: Frauke
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Musial
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hamberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D015995:Prevalence; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult