Complementary and alternative medicine use in veterans with multiple sclerosis: Prevalence and demographic associations

Authors:
  • RWRhonda M. Williams
    Rhonda M. Williams
  • MJMichael Hatzakis Jr.
    Michael Hatzakis Jr.
  • JBJames D. Bowen
    James D. Bowen
  • ARArthur Rodriquez
    Arthur Rodriquez
  • JHJodie K. Haselkorn
    Jodie K. Haselkorn
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Abstract
The present study explored complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in veterans with multiple sclerosis (MS). We administered self-report questionnaires to 451 veterans who received healthcare from Veterans Health Administration facilities. CAM use among veterans with MS was widespread; 37% of respondents reported current or past use. Roughly 33% of CAM users reported using multiple interventions, and 40% of respondents desired interventions that they were not already using. Logistic regression suggested that CAM use was more likely among participants with graduate-level education, poor self-reported health over the past year, and a progressive relapsing MS subtype. Participants who used traditional medical services were also more likely to use CAM, which suggests that CAM services are used in addition to, as opposed to in place of, traditional services. As others have proposed, these results suggest that care providers who work with persons with MS would be well served to understand, routinely screen for, and make use of CAM when appropriate.