Peninsula Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
Int J Clin Pract. 2010 Oct;64(11):1496-1502. doi: 10.1111/j.1742-1241.2010.02484.x.
In many countries, recent data on the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are available. However, in England, there is a paucity of such data. We sought to determine the prevalence and predictors of CAM use in England.
Data were obtained from the Health Survey for England 2005, a national household survey that included questions on CAM use. We used binary logistic regression modelling to explore whether demographic, health and lifestyle factors predict CAM use.
Data were available for 7630 respondents (household response rate 71%). Lifetime and 12-month prevalence of CAM use were 44.0% and 26.3% respectively; 12.1% had consulted a practitioner in the preceding 12 months. Massage, aromatherapy and acupuncture were the most commonly used therapies. Twenty-nine percent of respondents taking prescription drugs had used CAM in the last 12 months. Women (OR 0.491, 95% CI: 0.419, 0.577), university educated respondents (OR 1.296, 95% CI: 1.088, 1.544), those suffering from anxiety or depression (OR 1.341, 95% CI: 1.074, 1.674), people with poorer mental health (on GHQ: OR 1.062, 95% CI 1.026, 1.100) and lower levels of perceived social support (1.047, 95% CI: 1.008, 1.088), people consuming ≥ 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day (OR 1.327, 95% CI: 1.124, 1.567) were significantly more likely to use CAM.
Complementary and alternative medicine use in England remains substantial, even amongst those taking prescription drugs. These data serve as a valuable reminder to medical practitioners to ask patients about CAM use and should be routinely collected to facilitate prioritisation of the research agenda in CAM.
在许多国家，都有关于补充和替代医学（CAM）使用情况的最新数据。然而，在英国，此类数据却很少。我们试图确定英格兰 CAM 使用的流行率和预测因素。
数据来自 2005 年英格兰健康调查，这是一项全国性的家庭调查，其中包括关于 CAM 使用情况的问题。我们使用二元逻辑回归模型来探讨人口统计学、健康和生活方式因素是否可以预测 CAM 使用情况。
共有 7630 名受访者（家庭回复率为 71%）提供了数据。终生和 12 个月 CAM 使用的流行率分别为 44.0%和 26.3%；12 个月内有 12.1%的人咨询过从业者。按摩、芳香疗法和针灸是最常用的疗法。29%正在服用处方药的受访者在过去 12 个月中使用过 CAM。女性（OR 0.491，95%CI：0.419，0.577）、受过大学教育的受访者（OR 1.296，95%CI：1.088，1.544）、患有焦虑或抑郁的受访者（OR 1.341，95%CI：1.074，1.674）、心理健康状况较差的受访者（在 GHQ 上：OR 1.062，95%CI 1.026，1.100）和感知社会支持水平较低的受访者（1.047，95%CI：1.008，1.088），以及每天摄入≥5 份水果和蔬菜的受访者（OR 1.327，95%CI：1.124，1.567），使用 CAM 的可能性显著更高。
即使在服用处方药的人群中，英格兰的补充和替代医学使用率仍然很高。这些数据提醒医疗保健从业者要询问患者关于 CAM 使用的情况，并且应该定期收集这些数据，以促进 CAM 研究议程的优先排序。
