News Briefs
News Briefs
More Than Half of Infertile Couples at Clinic Used CAM, Study Says
A survey of patients who attended an infertility clinic in South Australia found that 66% had used complementary medicine, according to a study published in the April issue of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
The researchers conducted a prospective survey of 100 consecutive new patients presenting to an infertility clinic. Subjects were requested to complete a self-administered questionnaire at their first visit and six months later. The researchers also did a retrospective audit of 200 patient records.
They found that the CAM most commonly used by the patients included multivitamins, herbs, and mineral supplements, and providers consulted most frequently were naturopaths, chiropractors, and acupuncturists.
Six months following the initial consultation, the use of CAM therapies had declined. The researchers also found that the use of CAM therapies was poorly documented by clinical staff.
Non-Caucasian Patients with CAD Higher Users of CAM
Non-Caucasian patients with established coronary artery disease (CAD) report a higher use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), says research published in the April 1 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.
Researchers examined self-reported use of CAM and evidence-based therapies in a prospective registry of hospitalized patients with acute coronary syndrome from March 1, 2001, to Oct. 31, 2002. They then used Poisson regression models to assess whether CAM use was independently associated with lower rates of aspirin, beta-blocker, and statin use in 596 patients with CAD.
Overall, CAM use was 19% in patients with CAD, the researchers say. Higher proportions of patients who used CAM were non-Caucasian (31% vs. 12%), uninsured (12% vs. 7%), economically burdened (58% vs. 29%), and with depression (13% vs. 6%). Patients who used CAM were more likely to use beta blockers (64% vs. 46%) and as likely to use aspirin (73% vs. 74%) and statins (71% vs. 68%) as non-CAM users. Adjusting for demographic and clinical factors did not change results.
"In conclusion," the researchers say, "although CAM users with established CAD have worse socioeconomic status than nonusers, we found no evidence that they were less compliant with evidence-based therapies."
NCCAM to Hold Informational Teleconference on May 17
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) in Bethesda, MD, will hold an informational conference call on Thursday, May 17, 2007, from 2:00 to 3:30 pm ET to review requirements of the Developmental Centers for Research (DCRC) I funding opportunity announcement (FOA) and criteria for DCRC I applications. During the call, NCCAM staff will also answer applicants' questions.
Applicants wishing to register for the call should send an e-mail including name, department, institution, e-mail address, and phone number to [email protected]. This information will be used to contact registrants and provide them with information they will need to participate in the phone call. Registration is free, but must be completed no later than 5:00 pm ET on Friday, May 11, 2007.
In advance of the call, applicants planning to submit DCRC I applications are urged to familiarize themselves with the text of the DCRC I FOA, as well as with NCCAM's research funding priorities and NCCAM policies relevant to the research to be proposed.
Use of CAM Therapies Other Than Dietary Supplements Low for Weight Loss
Recent research shows that other than dietary supplements, the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for adults trying to lose weight is relatively low. Researchers designed their sample to obtain adequate representation of Hispanic and non-Hispanic black respondents. Data from the total sample of 11,211 were weighted to achieve an estimate of the U.S. population. The research focused on 372 people (3.3%) who had used CAM within the previous 12 months.
Higher adjusted odds ratios for CAM use were found among respondents who were exercising for weight control; using a lower carbohydrate, higher protein diet; using a nonprescription weight-loss product(s); overweight; physically active; and not satisfied with their bodies (with adjustments for age, race, gender, education, and city size). The most often used therapies were yoga (57.4%), meditation (8.2%), acupuncture (7.7%), massage (7.5%), and Eastern martial arts (5.9%). CAM users used the therapies on their own (62.6%), in a group setting (26.8%), or with a CAM practitioner (10.6%).
"Persons who had used other weight loss methods had greater odds for using CAM in the previous 12 months, suggesting that CAM use is often added to other weight-loss strategies," the researchers say. For more information, see the March issue of The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
A survey of patients who attended an infertility clinic in South Australia found that 66% had used complementary medicine.Subscribe Now for Access
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