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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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| Who are the users of vitamin-mineral and herbal preparations among community-living older adults? | | Author(s) | Jacquelyn McKenzie, Heather H Keller |
| Journal title | Canadian Journal on Aging, vol 22, no 2, Summer 2003 |
| Pages | pp 167-176 |
| Keywords | Vitamins ; Alternative medicine ; Living in the community ; Social surveys ; Canada. |
| Annotation | A convenience sample of 128 community-living Canadian over 65s was recruited from 10 sites, to identify factors associated with supplement use (vitamin-mineral and/or herbal preparations). An interview-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on nutritional variables, health history and supplement use. A Propensity to Use Supplements Scale was developed, and was associated with increased use of herbal supplements. At the bivariate level, few characteristics distinguished users and non-users. Multivariate modelling revealed the Propensity scale and a low body mass index (BMI) to be factors related to the total number of supplements used. When individual scale items were examined at the bivariate level, food supply concerns, health beliefs, and a proactive role in one's own health were associated with increased supplement use. Initial results suggest older people's attitudes towards supplements may be an important factor contributing to their decision to use supplements. Further work is required in a more diverse, randomly selected, older Canadian population. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-030829207 A |
| Classmark | CFE: LK3: K4: 3F: 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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