KD Willisona, GJ Andrewsb, WC Cockerhamc
Summary The characteristics of those who use complementary and alternative
medicine (CAM), as an approach to chronic disease management, are poorly
understood. They may however be important to nurses and other health
professionals given that CAM is increasingly used by their patients with chronic
disorders. In these contexts, the purpose of this study was to ascertain unique life
chance population characteristics which significantly influence the use of Swedish
massage therapy (SMT), a popular form of CAM, by older adults with chronic health
dysfunctions. A multi-site and cross-sectional design was used, as well as a pretested
postal questionnaire. One hundred forty-one (141) urban, non-institutionalized,
English-speaking older persons participated, ranging in age from 60 to 94
years. Findings denote the essential role life chances have on individuals accessing
alternative forms of care.
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice (2005) 11, 232–241 – abstract
doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2004.10.003
Filed under: Massage Therapy, Research, Utilization
