Adam Burke|Richard L. Nahin|Barbara Stussman
Limited Health Knowledge as a Reason for Non-Use of Four Common Complementary Health Practices
San Francisco State University|National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health|National Institutes of Health|National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health|National Institutes of Health
complementary health practices important element healthhealthcare seeking behavior among adults united states reasons use include medical need prevention wellness promotion cultural relevance survey studies published past several decades provided important information use complementary health practices acupuncture yoga review literature however reveals absence studies looking specifically use approaches notto explore issue two samples created using data 2007 national health interview survey complementary alternative medicine supplement particular interest relationship lack health knowledge reason nonuse key independent variables first sample comprised individuals never used four common complementary health practices acupuncture chiropractic natural products yoga second subset nonusers also reported low back pain frequently cited health concern related use complementary therapiesa hypothesized association lack health knowledge lower educational attainment key socioeconomic indicators supported findings although hypothesized low back pain would associated greater information seeking regardless level education hypothesis supportedlack knowledge found affect utilization common complementary health practices regardless potentially motivating presence back pain disparities utilization complementary medicine related educational attainment socioeconomic factors may negatively affect quality care many americans creative approaches needed help reduce inequities understanding improve access care underserved populations