Article Figures & Data
Figures
- Figure 1.
Use of the 6 most frequently used complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) modalities for back pain during the previous 12 months. These modalities are not mutually exclusive and are limited to respondents for whom back pain was one of the 3 most bothersome medical conditions.
Tables
- Table 1.
Sociodemographic and Clinical Factors of Respondents Who Used the 6 Most Frequently Used Complementary and Alternative Medicine Modalities for Back Pain during the Previous 12 Months
Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics CAM Users with Back Pain (%) (n = 1,647) Age (years) <30 17 30–39 22 40–49 25 50–64 24 ≥65 12 Sex Male 44 Female 56 Education <High school 9 Completed high school 61 Beyond high school 30 Annual household income ($) <20,000 17 20,000–34,999 27 35,000–64,999 24 ≥65,000 28 Race White 90 Non-white 10 Employment Employed 70 Unemployed 30 Insurance Private 68 Medicare 14 Medicaid 3 Uninsured 1 Unknown 2 Region Northeast 20 Midwest 32 South 26 West 23 Married 51 Self-reported health status Excellent/very good/good 88 Fair/poor 12 Body mass index <18.5 2 ≥18.5–25 38 >25–29 35 ≥30 22 Smoker 24 CAM, complementary and alternative medicine.
- Table 2.
Perceived Benefit of the 6 Most Frequently Used Complementary and Alternative Medicine Modalities for Back Pain
Modalities* Those with Great Benefit from CAM (Weighted %) Chiropractic (n = 1,163) 66 Massage (n = 196) 56 Yoga, Tai chi, Qi Gong (n = 45) 56 Acupuncture (n = 89) 42 Herbal therapies (n = 78) 32 Relaxation techniques (n = 76) 28 * The modalities listed are not mutually exclusive.
CAM, complementary and alternative medicine.
- Table 3.
Reasons for Using the 6 Most Frequently Used Complementary and Alternative Medicine Modalities for Back Pain
Reasons for Use CAM Users Who Reported Reasons for Use (%)(n = 1,647) Conventional medical treatment would not help 27 Conventional medical treatment was too expensive 13 Used conventional medicine and CAM together 53 Conventional medical practitioner suggested CAM 24 Interested in trying CAM 48 CAM, complementary and alternative medicine.
- Table 4.
Multivariable Analysis of Perceived Improvement after Use of the 6 Most Frequently Used Complementary and Alternative Medicine Modalities for Back Pain*
Predictors Adjusted Odds Ratio (95% CI) Sociodemographic Age <30 0.85 (0.59–1.22) 30–39 Reference 40–49 1.02 (0.75–1.4) 50–64 1.15 (0.82–1.62) ≥65 1.07 (0.71–1.61) Sex Male Reference Female 1.22 (0.96–1.54) Race White Reference Non-white 0.85 (0.6–1.22) Self-reported health status Excellent/very good/good Reference Fair/poor 0.58 (0.41–0.82) Reasons for CAM use Patients stated conventional medical treatment would not help Yes 1.46 (1.14–1.86) No Reference Conventional medical practitioner suggest CAM to their patients Yes 0.7 (0.54–0.92) No Reference CAM modalities Chiropractic Reference Acupuncture 0.71 (0.37–1.38) Herbal therapies 0.3 (0.19–0.46) Massage 0.62 (0.46–0.83) Yoga, tai chi, qi gong 0.71 (0.41–1.22) Relaxation techniques 0.25 (0.14–0.45) * Controlling for type of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapy.
