Complementary and alternative medicine use among health plan members: a cross-sectional survey. (Health Care Industry).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)

"The overall rate of use for at least one of the 16 CAM therapies (excluding prayer) for [our] study population was 42%. The most commonly used alternative therapies were relaxation techniques (18%), massage (12%) and herbal medicine (10%). Among members using CAM, the average number of therapies used [in the previous year] was 1.9.

CAM use was higher among female (46% female vs. 38% male), younger (younger than 55 years), more highly educated (college graduate or more), single and employed health plan members.

While those with chronic conditions were no more likely to report CAM use, patients with limitations in each of the health status measures …