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The use of complementary and alternative medicine in later life

Part of: Bespoke shallow archive Weizmann

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 December 2009

Jon Adams ,
Chi-Wai Lui  and
Deirdre McLaughlin
Jon Adams*
Affiliation:
School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Australia and Network of Researchers in the Public Health of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NORPHCAM); www.norphcam.org
Chi-Wai Lui
Affiliation:
School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Australia and Network of Researchers in the Public Health of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NORPHCAM); www.norphcam.org
Deirdre McLaughlin
Affiliation:
School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Australia and Network of Researchers in the Public Health of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NORPHCAM); www.norphcam.org
*
Address for correspondence: Associate Professor Jon Adams, School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Herston Road, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia. Email: j.adams@sph.uq.edu.au
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Summary

The increasing prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is a significant health care issue in contemporary societies and researchers have identified CAM as holding potential for treating and coping with chronic illness and other conditions experienced in later life. This paper focuses upon contemporary research literature to provide a critical review of the prevalence, correlates, conditions, perceptions and communication of CAM use in later life. Evidence from recent research illustrates the substantial prevalence and complexity of CAM use amongst older people and such ‘community’ use requires all providers, regardless of their experience or perception of the worth of CAM, to at least acknowledge and enquire with their older patients about the potential use of these other medicines.

Keywords

agedcomplementary medicinealternative medicineacupuncturearomatherapychiropractic carereflexologyherbal medicine
Type
Clinical geriatrics
Information
Reviews in Clinical Gerontology , Volume 19 , Issue 4 , November 2009 , pp. 227 - 236
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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