Background
Definition of CAM
1. Whole medical systems | Homeopathic medicine, naturopathic medicine, chiropractic, traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda etc. |
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2. Mind-body interventions | Meditation, prayer, mental healing, art, dance, music therapy etc. |
3. Biologically based therapies | Herbs, vitamins, dietary supplements, Health foods, aromatherapy etc. |
4. Manipulative and body based methods | Chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation, massage etc. |
5. Energy therapies (Biofield therapies and bioelectomagnetic based therapies) | Reiki, Qi gong, therapeutic touch, electromagnetic fields etc. |
Use of CAM in Japan and around the world
The Japanese healthcare system
Methods
Study population
Definition of CAM
Conduct of study
Statistical analyses
Results
Characteristic | Variable | Sample (n = 496) | Users of CAM1
(n = 246) | p-value (χ2 test) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
n = | % | n = | % | |||
Gender | Male | 190 | 38 | 78 | 32 | 0.003 |
Female | 306 | 62 | 168 | 68 | ||
Age | < 20 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0.85* |
20–29 | 58 | 12 | 26 | 11 | ||
30–39 | 68 | 14 | 38 | 15 | ||
40–49 | 53 | 11 | 29 | 12 | ||
50–59 | 85 | 17 | 40 | 16 | ||
60–69 | 109 | 22 | 51 | 21 | ||
70–79 | 83 | 17 | 42 | 17 | ||
80+ | 36 | 7 | 18 | 7 | ||
Highest education† | University degree | 155 | 31 | 77 | 31 | 0.30* |
Trade qualification | 109 | 22 | 56 | 23 | ||
Secondary school | 209 | 42 | 94 | 38 | ||
None (below secondary school) | 13 | 3 | 7 | 3 | ||
Financial status§ | Not well off | 67 | 14 | 33 | 13 | 0.82* |
Average | 394 | 79 | 191 | 78 | ||
Well off | 30 | 6 | 15 | 6 |
Number of different CAMs used* | Number (%) of people† |
---|---|
1 | 116 (47%) |
2 | 84 (34%) |
3 | 24 (10%) |
4+ | 22 (9%) |
Patterns and Reasons of CAM use
Type of CAM | Specific reasons stated for using CAM | % (n) | 95% C.I* |
---|---|---|---|
Massage (n = 106) | Musculo-skeletal problems | 47% (50) | 37% to 57% |
Recommended by friend | 7% (7) | 3% to 13% | |
Neurological problems | 5% (5) | 2% to 11% | |
Vitamins (n = 85) | Musculo-skeletal problems | 19% (16) | 11% to 29% |
General wellbeing | 14% (12) | 8% to 23% | |
To get better | 9% (8) | 4% to 18% | |
Health food/dietary supplement (n = 56) | Musculo-skeletal problems | 21% (12) | 12% to 34% |
General wellbeing | 16% (9) | 8% to 28% | |
To get better | 13% (7) | 5% to 24% | |
Acupressure (n = 51) | Musculo-skeletal problems | 35% (18) | 22% to 50% |
Recommended by friend | 10% (5) | 3% to 21% | |
General wellbeing | 6% (3) | 1% to 16% | |
Kampo (n = 46) | Musculo-skeletal problems | 15% (7) | 6% to 29% |
Gynaecological problems | 13% (6) | 5% to 26% | |
Lack of perceived side effects | 11% (5) | 4% to 24% |