Details:

Alternative Title:
BMC Complement Altern Med
Publisher's site:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-8-6
Personal Author:
Stokley, Shannon ; Cullen, Karen A ; Kennedy, Allison ; Bardenheier, Barbara H
Stokley, Shannon ; Cullen, Karen A ; Kennedy, Allison ; Bardenheier, Barbara H Less -
Description:
Background

While many Complementary/Alternative Medicine (CAM) practitioners do not object to immunization, some discourage or even actively oppose vaccination among their patients. However, previous studies in this area have focused on childhood immunizations, and it is unknown whether and to what extent CAM practitioners may influence the vaccination behavior of their adult patients. The purpose of this study was to describe vaccination coverage levels of adults aged ≥ 18 years according to their CAM use status and determine if there is an association between CAM use and adult vaccination coverage.

Methods

Data from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey, limited to 30,617 adults that provided at least one valid answer to the CAM supplement, were analyzed. Receipt of influenza vaccine during the past 12 months, pneumococcal vaccine (ever), and ≥ 1 dose of hepatitis B vaccine was self-reported. Coverage levels for each vaccine by CAM use status were determined for adults who were considered high priority for vaccination because of the presence of a high risk condition and for non-priority adults. Multivariable analyses were conducted to evaluate the association between CAM users and vaccination status, adjusting for demographic and healthcare utilization characteristics.

Results

Overall, 36% were recent CAM users. Among priority adults, adjusted vaccination coverage levels were significantly different between recent and non-CAM users for influenza (44% vs 38%; p-value < 0.001) and pneumococcal (40% vs 33%; p-value < 0.001) vaccines but were not significantly different for hepatitis B (60% vs 56%; p-value = 0.36). Among non-priority adults, recent CAM users had significantly higher unadjusted and adjusted vaccination coverage levels compared to non-CAM users for all three vaccines (p-values < 0.001).

Conclusion

Vaccination coverage levels among recent CAM users were found to be higher than non-CAM users. Because CAM use has been increasing over time in the U.S., it is important to continue monitoring CAM use and its possible influence on receipt of immunizations among adults. Since adult vaccination coverage levels remain below Healthy People 2010 goals, it may be beneficial to work with CAM practitioners to promote adult vaccines as preventive services in keeping with their commitment to maintaining good health.


Subject:
[+]
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Complementary Therapies
Female
Health Care Surveys
Hepatitis B Vaccines
Humans
Influenza Vaccines
Male
Middle Aged
Patient Acceptance Of Health Care
Pneumococcal Vaccines
Vaccination

Source:
BMC Complement Altern Med. 2008; 8:6.
Document Type:
Journal Article
Place as Subject:
United States
Collection(s):
CDC Public Access
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:84ead9d7ae7306b2255bdb180792749ba01ca964c8bc93c27f14137641028ecc
File Type:

Supporting Files

• 	1472-6882-8-6.nxml	txt
  	license.txt	txt

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