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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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Using alternative therapies to manage chronic illness among older adults
— an examination of the health context, predisposing and enabling processes | | Author(s) | Andrew V Wister, Minda Chittenden, Bonnie McCoy |
| Journal title | Canadian Journal on Aging, vol 21, no 1, Spring 2002 |
| Pages | pp 47-62 |
| Keywords | Alternative medicine ; Chronic illness ; Longitudinal surveys ; Canada. |
| Annotation | The 879 subjects aged 50+ from the North Shore Self Care Study conducted in Vancouver, Canada had previously been diagnosed with one of four major chronic illnesses (arthritis or rheumatism, heart disease, hypertension, and stroke). Two dependent variables were analysed using logistic regression techniques. The first is based on a comprehensive question about using alternative therapies (e.g. herbal remedies, acupuncture, massage therapy). The second uses a more specific question pertaining to medication or praying. Results of the first analysis show that being younger, suffering from arthritis compared to hypertension, comorbidity, taking fewer medications, lower income, reading about the chronic condition, and the interaction between reading and illness self-efficacy are associated with trying alternative therapies. For the second analysis, being female, being younger, and not married, as well as reporting a more serious condition, illness duration and the interaction between having moderate levels of mutual aid and number of confidants result in a greater likelihood of trying mediation or prayer. The degree to which unconventional and conventional medicines are complementary is discussed. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-020620204 A |
| Classmark | LK3: CI: 3J: 7S |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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