Conventional and Complementary Health Care Approaches Used by American Adults Reporting Joint Pain: Patterns from the National Health Interview Survey 2012.

Objective

To describe patterns of conventional health care (CH) and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among U.S. adults reporting recent joint symptoms in a nationally representative sample.

Design

This study uses the adult alternative medicine supplement from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Location: United States. Subjects: Nationally representative cross-sectional sample of non-institutionalized U.S. residents. Of 34,525 respondents who answered the alternative medicine supplement, approximately 30% (n = 10,964) reported recent pain symptoms (pain, aching, stiffness). Outcome measures: Among adults reporting joint symptoms, we examine reported use of CH, CAM, both CH and CAM, or neither specifically for joint symptoms or joint condition.

Results

Among adults reporting joint symptoms in the past 30 days, 64% reported using only CH for their joint pain, whereas ∼10% reported using CAM. Among those using CAM for their joint symptoms, 83% also sought help from a CH practitioner. CAM-only users comprised only 1.6% of the sample of joint pain sufferers. Those who reported using both CH and CAM for joint pain were more likely to report a diagnosis of a joint condition compared with CAM-only users, but also reported higher comorbidities and worse self-reported health.

Conclusion

Most U.S. adults reporting recent joint pain seek care only from a CH practitioner, although among the 10% who report CAM use for joint conditions, a strong majority also report seeking care from a CH practitioner. CH and CAM providers should consistently inquire about other forms of treatment their patients are using for specific symptoms to provide effective integrative health care management.