How many people use complementary therapies?
The use of complementary therapies is very popular in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 40 percent of adults in the U.S. have used one of these therapies in the past year [2]. Among women diagnosed with breast cancer, estimates of complementary therapy use range from about 15 percent to more than 80 percent [3-9].
Ethnicity and complementary therapy use
It isn’t clear whether different racial and ethnic groups have different rates of complementary therapy use. Some studies have shown similar rates of use of these therapies across racial and ethnic groups [6-7,10]. Others have found differences, especially in the type of complementary therapies people have tried [2,5,8]. Some studies have shown that African Americans were more likely than other racial groups to use mind-body therapies (like prayer and support groups) and whites were more likely to use manipulative and body-based practices (like chiropractic and massage) [2,5].
Use of complementary therapy in healthcare settings
As complementary therapies become more popular and the science behind them continues to grow, more conventional medical institutions are integrating these therapies and providers into their systems (called “integrative therapies” or "integrative medicine") [11-14]. A survey by the American Hospital Association found that close to 27 percent of responding hospitals offer complementary therapies [15]. Cancer treatment centers seem to lead the way in integrative medicine, with many offering complementary therapies (such as acupuncture, massage, qi gong and meditation) alongside conventional treatment [16].
To find a cancer treatment center that offers integrative medicine, visit http://dirline.nlm.nih.gov.
Updated 01/27/11
