title: Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Therapy Use in a Diverse New Mexican Population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe differences, attitudes, and experiences in use of complementary and alternative medicines and therapy (CAMT) in people living in New Mexico (NM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinics staffed by the University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy faculty between September 2009 and August 2011 in Albuquerque, NM.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients 18 years of age or older or parents of patients younger than age 18 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive statistics for survey results and mean scores for attitudinal items. Chi-square, t-test, and analysis of variance were used to compare differences between groups across demographic variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A convenience sample yielded 263 completed surveys. Of the respondents, 62% were male, 39% were single, and 50% were Hispanic. Nearly 56% of respondents used CAMT in the previous 6 months; 38% used CAMT in addition to and 11% used CAMT instead of prescription medications. Average number of CAMT used per respondent was 2.3 ± 1.6. A majority of respondents indicated that their CAMT use in the previous 6 months was useful, a good idea, easy to use, and likely to continue. CAMT use was significantly higher in female respondents (p = 0.03), those with a higher education level (p < 0.01), and those with a higher household income level (p = 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of CAMT is high in a diverse population of patients. Older respondents were more likely to use CAMT in addition to prescription medications, and younger respondents were more likely to use CAMT instead of prescription medications. Providers need to consider CAMT use when discussing treatment options with patients.
authors.affiliation: 1 University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy , Albuquerque, NM.
authors.forename: Patricia L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Marshik
authors.affiliation: 1 University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy , Albuquerque, NM.
authors.forename: Akshay A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Kharat
authors.affiliation: 1 University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy , Albuquerque, NM.
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jakeman
authors.affiliation: 1 University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy , Albuquerque, NM.
authors.forename: Matthew E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Borrego
authors.affiliation: 1 University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy , Albuquerque, NM.
authors.forename: Melanie A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dodd
authors.affiliation: 1 University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy , Albuquerque, NM.|2 Walgreens, Patient Care Center , Albuquerque, NM.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bachyrycz
authors.affiliation: 1 University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy , Albuquerque, NM.
authors.forename: Joe R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: 1 University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy , Albuquerque, NM.
authors.forename: Rucha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bond
authors.affiliation: 1 University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy , Albuquerque, NM.
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deming
authors.affiliation: 1 University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy , Albuquerque, NM.
authors.forename: Renee-Claude
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Mercier
authors.affiliation: 1 University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy , Albuquerque, NM.
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Nawarskas
authors.affiliation: 1 University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy , Albuquerque, NM.
authors.forename: Gretchen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.affiliation: 1 University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy , Albuquerque, NM.
authors.forename: Krista
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Salazar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009516:New Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult