Personal use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by U.S. health care workers

Abstract

Objective: To examine personal use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among U.S. health care workers.

Data: Data are from the 2007 Alternative Health Supplement of the National Health Interview Survey. We examined a nationally representative sample of employed adults (n = 14,329), including a subsample employed in hospitals or ambulatory care settings (n = 1,280).

Study design: We used multivariate logistic regression to estimate the odds of past year CAM use.

Principal findings: Health care workers are more likely than the general population to use CAM. Among health care workers, health care providers are more likely to use CAM than other occupations.

Conclusions: Personal CAM use by health care workers may influence the integration of CAM with conventional health care delivery. Future research on the effects of personal CAM use by health care workers is therefore warranted.