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Evaluating the barriers to the utilization of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the United States: An exploratory study.

The utilization of certain forms of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is prevalent among adults in the United States. While researchers have extensively studied the factors influencing CAM use in Western countries, significant barriers to its adoption remain. This paper draws attention to...

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Published in:Advances in Integrative Medicine Vol. 10; no. 4; pp. 167 - 172
Main Author: Chatterjee, Anwesa
Format: research Journal Article
Published: Elsevier B.V. Dec2023
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      dt: Dec2023
      vid: 10
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      pub: Elsevier B.V.
      place: New York, New York
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        176296150
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        10.1016/j.aimed.2023.10.002
        176296150
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        atl: Evaluating the barriers to the utilization of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the United States: An exploratory study.
      aug:
        au: Chatterjee, Anwesa
        affil: Canterbury Christ Church University, N Holmes Road, Canterbury CT1 1QU, United Kingdom
      sug:
        subj:
          Alternative Therapies Methods
          Alternative Therapies Utilization
          Alternative Therapies In Adulthood
          Health Services Accessibility Evaluation
          Health Care Delivery
          Human
          United States
          Exploratory Research
          Adult
          Qualitative Studies
          Interviews
          Health Care Costs
          Information Resources
          Adult: 19-44 years
      ab: The utilization of certain forms of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is prevalent among adults in the United States. While researchers have extensively studied the factors influencing CAM use in Western countries, significant barriers to its adoption remain. This paper draws attention to the obstacles faced by individuals in their journey to using CAM. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 21 patients who had turned to CAM for managing a chronic illness/condition. These in-depth, face-to-face interviews occurred in Miami, USA, during 2014–15. The sampling, data collection, and analysis processes of this study adhered to the principles outlined in Charmaz's constructivist grounded theory approach. From the data, three central barriers to CAM utilization in the US emerged: 1) Financial barriers: A significant portion of CAM treatments is not covered by insurance, making them cost-prohibitive for many. 2) Skepticism and discouragement: Both conventional medical practitioners and a segment of the public exhibited a noticeable trend towards discouraging CAM use. 3) Evaluation challenges: Patients expressed difficulty in assessing the efficacy and benefits of various CAM treatments compared to their costs. Despite the widespread interest in and use of CAM in the US, numerous barriers hinder its broader integration into mainstream healthcare. These obstacles not only restrict healthcare choices for the general public but also appear to favor a select demographic, potentially based on income and availability of information.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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