TY - JOUR
T1 - Complementary/alternative medicine use for arthritis by older women of urban-rural settings
AU - Cheung, Corjena K
AU - Geisler, Carol
AU - Sunneberg, Jeris
PY - 2014/5
Y1 - 2014/5
N2 - Purpose: This study described the use of complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) for arthritis management among community-dwelling older women in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Data sources: A descriptive qualitative approach using focus group method was employed. A purposive sample of 50 women ages 66-101 who managed arthritis with CAM participated in eight semistructured focus groups: rural (n = 22), suburban (n = 17), and urban areas (n = 11). Data were transcribed verbatim. Inductive analytic process and computer software were used for data analysis. Conclusions: A wide variety of self-help CAM were reported. Supplements were the most commonly used CAM across all locations; rural participants reported the greatest variety of CAM use. Physical symptoms, dissatisfaction with conventional medicine, perceived safety and convenience of CAM, and a desire for personal control over one's health motivated CAM use. Most participants did not fully disclose their CAM use to their primary healthcare provider (HCP). Implications for practice: Results suggest a strong need for primary HCP to purposely dialogue with their clients on CAM use when designing, organizing, and delivering arthritis care. Information on safe CAM use and greater options for effective arthritis management with CAM are needed. The value of group-based model for treating arthritis deserves further exploration.
AB - Purpose: This study described the use of complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) for arthritis management among community-dwelling older women in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Data sources: A descriptive qualitative approach using focus group method was employed. A purposive sample of 50 women ages 66-101 who managed arthritis with CAM participated in eight semistructured focus groups: rural (n = 22), suburban (n = 17), and urban areas (n = 11). Data were transcribed verbatim. Inductive analytic process and computer software were used for data analysis. Conclusions: A wide variety of self-help CAM were reported. Supplements were the most commonly used CAM across all locations; rural participants reported the greatest variety of CAM use. Physical symptoms, dissatisfaction with conventional medicine, perceived safety and convenience of CAM, and a desire for personal control over one's health motivated CAM use. Most participants did not fully disclose their CAM use to their primary healthcare provider (HCP). Implications for practice: Results suggest a strong need for primary HCP to purposely dialogue with their clients on CAM use when designing, organizing, and delivering arthritis care. Information on safe CAM use and greater options for effective arthritis management with CAM are needed. The value of group-based model for treating arthritis deserves further exploration.
KW - Arthritis
KW - Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)
KW - Elderly
KW - Focus groups
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U2 - 10.1002/2327-6924.12063
DO - 10.1002/2327-6924.12063
M3 - Article
C2 - 24170509
AN - SCOPUS:84899058701
VL - 26
SP - 273
EP - 280
JO - Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners
JF - Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners
SN - 2327-6886
IS - 5
ER -