The Program for Integrative Medicine and Health Care Disparities
conducts research in several areas relevant to underserved or
ethnic minority populations. Complementary and Alternative
Medicine (CAM) therapies such as supplements, meditation, yoga,
massage, and acupuncture are increasingly popular in the U.S.
Studies estimate over one-third of U.S. adults use CAM therapies
while approximately one of ten children use them. Well-designed
research studies need to be carried out to determine which of
these complementary therapies are safe and effective and should
be therefore integrated into mainstream clinical care.
Conversely, if research identifies practices that may be
ineffective or unsafe, their use should be strongly discouraged
and not combined with conventional medicine. National surveys
also show, however, disparities in CAM use based upon race,
income, and education. For example, CAM use is much less common
in non-whites, Hispanics, the poor, and people with less
education. Although CAM research has i