Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Prevalence and Determinants of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Provider Use among Adults from 32 Countries

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To estimate recent prevalence data (2011–2013) on traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) provider use and sociodemographic and health related correlates in nationally representative population samples from 32 countries from all world regions.

Methods

This secondary analysis was based on the International Social Survey Program (ISSP), 2011–2013, Health and Health Care Module. In a cross-sectional population-based survey (N=52,801), simple or multi-stage stratified random sampling was used, resulting in representative samples of the adult population of respective countries.

Results

Overall, the 12-month TCAM provider use prevalence was 26.4%, ranging from under 10% in Bulgaria, Poland and Slovenia to over 50% in China mainland, the Philippines and Republic of Korea. Over 80% TCAM treatment satisfaction was found in Europe in Denmark, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland, in Asia in Taiwan (China) and USA. Multivariate logistic regression found sociodemographic variables (middle age, female sex, lower educational status, not having a religious affiliation, and lower economic indicators) and health variables (perceived poor or fair health status, being unhappy and depressed, having a chronic condition or disability, and having positive attitudes towards TCAM) were associated with TCAM provider use.

Conclusions

A high prevalence TCAM provider use was found in all world regions and several sociodemographic and health related factors of its use were identified.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Harris, PE, Cooper KL, Relton C, Thomas KJ. Prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use by the general population: a systematic review and update. Int J Clin Pract 2012;66:924–939.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Naberezhneva, N. Complementary and alternative medicine in Norway. Changes in CAM prevalence and user characteristics in Norway from 2002 to 2012 [dissertation]. Oslo: University of Oslo; 2014. Available at http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-46788; Accessed 25 January, 2016.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Peltzer K, Pengpid S. Utilization and practice of traditional/complementary/alternative medicine (T/CAM) in Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States. Stud Ethno-Med 2015;9:209–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Peltzer K. Utilization and practice of traditional/complementary/alternative medicine (TM/CAM) in South Africa. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med 2009;6:175–185.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Naja F, Alameddine M, Itani L, Shoaib H, Hariri D, Talhouk S. The use of complementary and alternative medicine among Lebanese adults: results from a national survey. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2015;2015:682397.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Clarke TC, Black LI, Stussman BJ, Barnes PM, Nahin RL. Trends in the use of complementary health approaches among adults: United States, 2002–2012. Natl Health Stat Report 2015;79:1–16.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Klein SD, Torchetti L, Frei-Erb M, Wolf U. Usage of complementary medicine in Switzerland: results of the Swiss Health Survey 2012 and development since 2007. PLoS One 2015;10:e0141985.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Seo HJ, Baek SM, Kim SG, Kim TH, Choi SM. Prevalence of complementary prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine use in a community-based population in South Korea: a systematic review. Complement Ther Med 2013;21:260–271.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Bishop FL, Lewith GT. Who uses CAM? A narrative review of demographic characteristics and health factors associated with cam use. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2010;7:11–28.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Shih CC, Huang LH, Lane HL, Tsai CC, Lin JG, Chen TL, et al. Use of folk therapy in Taiwan: a nationwide crosssectional survey of prevalence and associated factors. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2015;2015:649265.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Abolhassani H, Naseri M, Mahmoudzadeh S. A survey of complementary and alternative medicine in Iran. Chin J Integr Med 2012;18:409–16.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Stickley A, Koyanagi A, Richardson E, Roberts B, Balabanova D, McKee M. Prevalence and factors associated with the use of alternative (folk) medicine practitioners in 8 countries of the former Soviet Union. BMC Complement Altern Med 2013;13:83.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Choi JH, Kang S, You CH, Kwon YD. The determinants of choosing traditional Korean medicine or conventional medicine: findings from the Korea health panel. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2015;2015:147408.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Spinks J, Hollingsworth B. Policy implications of complementary and alternative medicine use in Australia: data from the National Health Survey. J Altern Complement Med 2012;18:371–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Liu T, Li X, Zou ZY, Li C. The prevalence and determinants of using traditional Chinese medicine among middle-aged and older Chinese adults: results from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2015;16:1002:e1–e5.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Kim D, Lim B, Kim C. Relationship between patient satisfaction with medical doctors and the use of traditional Korean medicine in Korea. BMC Complement Altern Med 2015;15:355.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. ISSP Research Group. International Social Survey Programme: Health and Health Care-ISSP 2011. GESIS Data Archive, Cologne, 2015. ZA5800 Data file Version 3.0.0. Doi:10.4232/1.12252.

    Google Scholar 

  18. World Health Organization (WHO). National policy on traditional medicine and regulation of herbal medicines report of a WHO global survey. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO; 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Ock SM, Choi JY, Cha YS, Lee J, Chun MS, et al. The use of complementary and alternative medicine in a general population in South Korea: results from a national survey in 2006. J Korean Med Sci 2009;24:1–6.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  20. National Statistics Office (NSO, Philippines), ICF Macro. National demographic and health survey 2008. Calverton, Maryland: National Statistics Office and ICF Macro; 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Shumer G, Warber S, Motohara S, Yajima A, Plegue M, Bialko M, et al. Complementary and alternative medicine use by visitors to rural Japanese family medicine clinics: results from the international complementary and alternative medicine survey. BMC Complement Altern Med 2014;14:360.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Yamashita H, Tsukayama H, Sugishita C. Popularity of complementary and alternative medicine in Japan: a telephone survey. Complement Ther Med 2002;10:84–93.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Shim JM. The relationship between the use of complementary and alternative medicine and the use of biomedical services: evidence from East Asian Medical Systems. Asia Pac J Public Health 2016;28:51–60.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Thomas K, Coleman P. Use of complementary or alternative medicine in a general population in Great Britain. Results from the National Omnibus Survey. J Public Health 2004;26:152–157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Niskar AS, Peled-Leviatan T, Garty-Sandalon N. Who uses complementary and alternative medicine in Israel? J Altern Complement Med 2007;13:989–995.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Barnes PM, Bloom B, Nahin RL. Complementary and alternative medicine use among adults and children: United States, 2007. Natl Health Stat Report 2008;12:1–23.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Xue CC, Zhang AL, Lin V, Da Costa C, Story DF. Complementary and alternative medicine use in Australia: a national population-based survey. J Altern Complement Med 2007;13:643–650.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. MacLennan AH, Myers SP, Taylor AW. The continuing use of complementary and alternative medicine in South Australia: costs and beliefs in 2004. Med J Aust 2006;184:27–31.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Nahin RL, Barnes PM, Stussman BJ, Bloom B. Costs of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and frequency of visits to CAM practitioners: United States, 2007. National health statistics reports: No. 18. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics; 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Woo JM, Park EJ, Lee M, Ahn M, Kwon S, Koo KH. Changes in attitudes toward and patterns in traditional Korean medicine among the general population in South Korea: a comparison between 2008 and 2011. BMC Complement Altern Med 2014;14:436.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  31. Van Wassenhoven M, Goossens M, Anelli M, Sermeus G, Kupers P, Morgado C, et al. Homeopathy and health related quality of life: a patient satisfaction survey in six European countries and Brazil. Homeopathy 2014;103:250–256.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Bertakis KD, Azari R, Helms LJ, Callahan EJ, Robbins JA. Gender differences in the utilization of health care services. J Fam Pract 2000;49:147–152.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Bishop FL, Yardley L, Lewith GT. A systematic review of beliefs involved in the use of complementary and alternative medicine. J Health Psychol 2007;12:851–867.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Falci L, Shi Z, Greenlee H. Multiple chronic conditions and use of complementary and alternative medicine among US adults: results from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey. Prev Chronic Dis 2016;13:e61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

International Social Survey Programme: Health and Health Care-ISSP 2011 dataset is publicly available at http://zacat.gesis.org/webview/index/en/ZACAT/ZACAT. c.ZACAT/ISSP.d.58/by-Year.d.69/International-Social-Survey-Programme-Health-and-Health-Care-ISSP-2011/fStudy/ZA5800

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Institute for Health Development, Mahidol University, Salaya, Phutthamonthon, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, Thailand

    Karl Peltzer & Supa Pengpid

  2. Department of Research and Innovation, University of Limpopo, Turfloop Campus, Sovenga, 0727, South Africa

    Karl Peltzer & Supa Pengpid

  3. IV/AIDS/STIs and TB (HAST), Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa

    Karl Peltzer

Authors
  1. Karl Peltzer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Supa Pengpid
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Karl Peltzer.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Peltzer, K., Pengpid, S. Prevalence and Determinants of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Provider Use among Adults from 32 Countries. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 24, 584–590 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-016-2748-y

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-016-2748-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation