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How Does Acculturation Affect the Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Providers Among Mexican- and Asian- Americans?

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Abstract

Researchers have found that immigrants in the United States gradually relinquish cultural practices and adopt health behaviors similar to native born individuals as they acculturate. Few studies have looked at acculturation and Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) use, particularly ethnic forms of CAM. This study uses data from the 2001 California Health Interview Survey—Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CHIS-CAM) supplement to estimate the prevalence of CAM provider use among Mexican- and Asian- Americans and examine the relationship of acculturation on use. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to predict the probability of provider use based on socio-demographic variables, health status and acculturation. Mexican- and Asian- Americans who have spent more time in the US were more likely to use chiropractors or massage therapists compared to no CAM provider. Both groups were less likely to use ethnic-specific CAM providers with more time in the US compared to chiropractors or massage therapists.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Yan Xiong, Winnie Huang, and An-Fu Hsiao. The authors would also like to thank Dylan Roby for analytic support. The funding for CHIS-CAM was provided through a contract from the National Cancer Institute (N02-PC-95057, E. Richard Brown, P.I.). The research was conducted under the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Jennifer H. Lee & Michael S. Goldstein

  2. UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, University of California, 10960 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1550, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, USA

    Jennifer H. Lee & E. Richard Brown

  3. Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Rachel Ballard-Barbash

Authors
  1. Jennifer H. Lee
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  2. Michael S. Goldstein
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  3. E. Richard Brown
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  4. Rachel Ballard-Barbash
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Correspondence to Jennifer H. Lee.

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Lee, J.H., Goldstein, M.S., Richard Brown, E. et al. How Does Acculturation Affect the Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Providers Among Mexican- and Asian- Americans?. J Immigrant Minority Health 12, 302–309 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-008-9171-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-008-9171-1

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