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Complementary medicine use in the Australian population: Results of a nationally-representative cross-sectional survey981.60 kB
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open
Journal article
Complementary medicine use in the Australian population: Results of a nationally-representative cross-sectional survey
Scientific Reports, Vol.8(Nov (E-published)), 17325
23/11/2018
PMCID: PMC6251890
PMID: 30470778
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Source: InCites
Abstract
In order to describe the prevalence and characteristics of complementary medicine (CM) practice and product use by Australians, we conducted a cross-sectional online survey with Australian adults aged 18 and over. Rates of consultation with CM practitioners, and use of CM products and practices were assessed. The sample (n = 2,019) was broadly representative of the Australian population. Prevalence of any CM use was 63.1%, with 36% consulting a CM practitioner and 52.8% using any CM product or practice. Bodywork therapists were the most commonly consulted CM practitioners (massage therapists 20.7%, chiropractors 12.6%, yoga teachers 8.9%) and homeopaths were the least commonly consulted (3.4%). Almost half of respondents (47.8%) used vitamin/mineral supplements, while relaxation techniques/meditation were the most common practice (15.8%). CM users were more likely to be female, have a chronic disease diagnosis, no private health insurance, a higher education level, and not be looking for work. Prevalence of CM use in Australia has remained consistently high, demonstrating that CM is an established part of contemporary health management practices within the general population. It is critical that health policy makers and health care providers acknowledge CM in their attempts to ensure optimal public health and patient outcomes.
Details
- Title
- Complementary medicine use in the Australian population: Results of a nationally-representative cross-sectional survey
- Creators
- Amie Steel - University of Technology SydneyErica McIntyre - University of Technology SydneyJoanna Harnett - University of Technology SydneyHope Foley - University of Technology SydneyJon Adams - University of Technology SydneyDavid Sibbritt - University of Technology SydneyJon Wardle - University of Technology SydneyJane Frawley - University of Technology Sydney
- Publication Details
- Scientific Reports, Vol.8(Nov (E-published)), 17325
- Comment
- This study was funded by direct contributions from Endeavour College of Natural Health and the Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine (University of Technology Sydney). HF was supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship while working on this manuscript. JA was supported by an Australian Research Council Professorial Future Fellowship while working on this manuscript (Grant FT140100195). JW was supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Translating Research into Practice Fellowship while working on this manuscript (Grant 1133136). JH’s academic position was supported by a philanthropic donation from Blackmores Pty Ltd during the course of this study.
- Publisher
- Nature Publishing Group
- Number of pages
- 7
- Grant note
- 1133136 / National Health and Medical Research Council; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia FT140100195 / Australian Research Council Professorial Future Fellowship; Australian Research Council Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship; Australian Government; Department of Industry, Innovation and Science Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine (University of Technology Sydney) Blackmores Pty Ltd Endeavour College of Natural Health
- Identifiers
- 991013035764402368
- Copyright
- © The Author(s) 2018. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. Te images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons license and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Health; National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article