title: Differences between Male and Female Consumers of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in a National US Population: A Secondary Analysis of 2012 NIHS Data.
abstract: We examined the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) 2012 to explore how US adult consumers of CAM differ by gender in terms of their sociodemographic characteristics, current health conditions, and perceived benefits of CAM. All individuals who completed the adults core interviews (N = 34,525) were included. CAM use, major sociodemographic variables, perceived benefits of using CAM, and top ten reported health conditions for which CAM was used were selected and analyzed by Stata. Findings revealed that 29.6% (n = 10,181) reported having used at least one form of CAM in the previous 12 months. Compared to male CAM users, female CAM users were more likely to have a bachelor degree, to be divorced/separated or widowed, and less likely to earn $75,000 or more. Back pain/problem was the most common problem reported by both male and female CAM users (32.2% and 22.6%, resp.). A higher proportion of female CAM users reported using CAM for perceived benefits such as general wellness or general disease prevention. This paper provides foundation information regarding gender differences in CAM use and is a platform for further in-depth examination into how and why males and females differ in their reasons for CAM use.
authors: Division of Health Services Research, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Laura W. Bush Institute for Women's Health, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street, Stop 8143, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA ; International Complementary Medicine Research Leadership and Capacity Building Program, Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine (ARCCIM), University of Technology, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: International Complementary Medicine Research Leadership and Capacity Building Program, Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine (ARCCIM), University of Technology, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia ; School of Nursing & Midwifery, University of South Australia, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
authors: Matthew J
authors: MJ
authors: Leach
authors: International Complementary Medicine Research Leadership and Capacity Building Program, Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine (ARCCIM), University of Technology, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia ; Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Frankston, VIC 3199, Australia.
authors: Helen
authors: H
authors: Hall
authors: International Complementary Medicine Research Leadership and Capacity Building Program, Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine (ARCCIM), University of Technology, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia ; Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institute, 141 83 Huddinge, Sweden.
authors: Tobias
authors: T
authors: Sundberg
authors: International Complementary Medicine Research Leadership and Capacity Building Program, Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine (ARCCIM), University of Technology, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia ; Department of Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
authors: Lesley
authors: L
authors: Ward
authors: International Complementary Medicine Research Leadership and Capacity Building Program, Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine (ARCCIM), University of Technology, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia ; Faculty of Health, University of Technology, Sydney, Building 10, Level 7, Room 232, 235-253 Jones Street, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia.
authors: David
authors: 0000-0003-3561-9447
authors: D
authors: Sibbritt
authors: International Complementary Medicine Research Leadership and Capacity Building Program, Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine (ARCCIM), University of Technology, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia ; Faculty of Health, University of Technology, Sydney, Building 10, Level 7, Room 232, 235-253 Jones Street, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia.
authors: Jon
authors: J
authors: Adams