Use of complementary and alternative medicine by mid-age women with back pain: a national cross-sectional survey

Broom, AF; Kirby, ER; Sibbritt, DW; Adams, J; Refshauge, KM

Use of complementary and alternative medicine by mid-age women with back pain: a national cross-sectional survey

Broom, AF

Kirby, ER Sibbritt, DW

Adams, J

Refshauge, KM

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012, 12
Issue Date:: 2012-07-18

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Broom, AF https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1258-1140	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Kirby, ER	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Sibbritt, DW https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3561-9447	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Adams, J https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9901-5717	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Refshauge, KM	en_US
dc.date.available	2012-07-08	en_US
dc.date.issued	2012-07-18	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012, 12	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/18472
dc.description.abstract	Background: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has increased significantly in Australia over the past decade. Back pain represents a common context for CAM use, with increasing utilisation of a wide range of therapies provided within and outside conventional medical facilities. We examine the relationship between back pain and use of CAM and conventional medicine in a national cohort of mid-aged Australian women.Methods: Data is taken from a cross-sectional survey (n = 10492) of the mid-aged cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health, surveyed in 2007. The main outcome measures were: incidence of back pain the previous 12 months, and frequency of use of conventional or CAM treatments in the previous 12 months.Results: Back pain was experienced by 77% (n = 8063) of the cohort in the previous twelve month period. The majority of women with back pain only consulted with a conventional care provider (51.3%), 44.2% of women with back pain consulted with both a conventional care provider and a CAM practitioner. Women with more frequent back pain were more likely to consult a CAM practitioner, as well as seek conventional care. The most commonly utilised CAM practitioners were massage therapy (26.5% of those with back pain) and chiropractic (16.1% of those with back pain). Only 1.7% of women with back pain consulted with a CAM practitioner exclusively.Conclusions: Mid-aged women with back pain utilise a range of conventional and CAM treatments. Consultation with CAM practitioners or self-prescribed CAM was predominantly in addition to, rather than a replacement for, conventional care. It is important that health professionals are aware of potential multiple practitioner usage in the context of back pain and are prepared to discuss such behaviours and practices with their patients. © 2012 Broom et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1186/1472-6882-12-98	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Complementary & Alternative Medicine	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Back Pain	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Complementary Therapies	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Massage	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Cohort Studies	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Cross-Sectional Studies	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Adult	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Aged	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Middle Aged	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Australia	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Young Adult	en_US
dc.title	Use of complementary and alternative medicine by mid-age women with back pain: a national cross-sectional survey	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	12	en_US
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services	en_US
utslib.for	1104 Complementary and Alternative Medicine	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Public Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	12	en_US

Abstract:

Background: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has increased significantly in Australia over the past decade. Back pain represents a common context for CAM use, with increasing utilisation of a wide range of therapies provided within and outside conventional medical facilities. We examine the relationship between back pain and use of CAM and conventional medicine in a national cohort of mid-aged Australian women.Methods: Data is taken from a cross-sectional survey (n = 10492) of the mid-aged cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health, surveyed in 2007. The main outcome measures were: incidence of back pain the previous 12 months, and frequency of use of conventional or CAM treatments in the previous 12 months.Results: Back pain was experienced by 77% (n = 8063) of the cohort in the previous twelve month period. The majority of women with back pain only consulted with a conventional care provider (51.3%), 44.2% of women with back pain consulted with both a conventional care provider and a CAM practitioner. Women with more frequent back pain were more likely to consult a CAM practitioner, as well as seek conventional care. The most commonly utilised CAM practitioners were massage therapy (26.5% of those with back pain) and chiropractic (16.1% of those with back pain). Only 1.7% of women with back pain consulted with a CAM practitioner exclusively.Conclusions: Mid-aged women with back pain utilise a range of conventional and CAM treatments. Consultation with CAM practitioners or self-prescribed CAM was predominantly in addition to, rather than a replacement for, conventional care. It is important that health professionals are aware of potential multiple practitioner usage in the context of back pain and are prepared to discuss such behaviours and practices with their patients. © 2012 Broom et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/18472