Open AccessSociodemographic Characteristics for Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Japan
Author(s) -
Tokuda Yasuharu,
Takahashi Osamu,
Ohde Sachiko,
Shakudo Masaaki,
Yanai Haruo,
Shimbo Takuro,
Fukuhara Shunichi,
Hinohara Shigeaki,
Fukui Tsuguya
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
general medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1883-6011
pISSN - 1346-0072
DOI - 10.14442/general2000.9.31
Subject(s) - medicine , odds ratio , demography , odds , cohort , household income , prospective cohort study , logistic regression , gerontology , archaeology , sociology , history
BACKGROUND Use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has become popular in Japan. OBJECTIVE To investigate associations of symptom‐related CAM use with sociodemographic factors in Japan. DESIGN AND SETTING A prospective cohort study of a nationally representative sample of households in Japan. PARTICIPANTS Community‐dwelling adults who developed at least one symptom during a 31‐day period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Self‐reported, symptom‐related use of CAM, either physical CAM or oral CAM. RESULTS Of 2,453 adults, 2,103 participants (86%) developed at least one symptom. Of these symptomatic adults, 156 (7.4%; 95% CI: 6.3–8.5%) used physical CAM therapy. The likelihood of using physical CAM was not significantly influenced by annual household income, employment, or education. Participants living in large cities had an increased likelihood of using physical CAM with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.6 (95% CI: 1.2–5.8), compared to those living in rural areas. Oral CAM therapy was used by 480 participants (22.8%; 95% CI: 21.0–24.6%) among the symptomatic adults. An age of 60 years old and older (OR 2.0; 95% CI: 1.2–3.3) and female gender (OR 1.8; 95% CI: 1.3–2.6) were significantly associated with an increased use of oral CAM. The unemployed participants had a lower likelihood of using oral CAM, with an OR of 0.6 (95% CI: 0.4–0.9), compared to the employed. CONCLUSIONS Oral CAM use is common among Japanese patients and is associated with older age, female gender, and employed status, while physical CAM use is less common and is associated with living in a large city.