Gov’t. study shows 40 million have used chiropractic


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May 2004

A just-released nationwide government study on complementary and alternative medicine shows that 40 million adult Americans have used chiropractic at some time in their lives and more than 15 million have had chiropractic care within the last 12 months.

The study — the largest and most comprehensive ever done on CAM — surveyed 31,000 adults. It showed that 36 percent of U.S. adults over age 18 use some form of CAM and the most common reason they seek alternative healthcare is for relief from back pain.

“These new findings confirm the extent to which American have turned to CAM approaches with the hope that they would help treat and prevent disease and enhance quality of life,” said Stephen E. Straus, MD, director of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).

The survey was conducted as part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2002 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). The survey included questions on 27 types of CAM therapies commonly used in the United States, including 10 types of provider –based therapies, such as chiropractic and acupuncture. It also asked about 17 other therapies that do not require a provider, such as natural products (herbs or botanical products), special diets and megavitamin therapy. The survey also included praying for health as an alternative to conventional medicine.

CAM spending is BIG
The newest survey did not ask how much Americans spend on CAM. But another survey, conducted in 1997 by D.M. Eisenberg and published the Annals of Internal Medicine (July 1997), said the fees people paid out-of-pocket for CAM in 1997 was more than they paid for all hospitalizations during that year.
Eisenberg’s study said that the U.S. spent about $47 billion on CAM therapies. Of that amount, between $12.2 billion and $19.6 billion was paid out-of-pocket for the services of professional CAM healthcare providers — chiropractors, acupuncturists and massage therapists.
These fees were more than the U.S. public paid out-of-pocket for all hospitalizations in 1997 and about half that paid for all out-of-pocket physician services, according to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMMS), 1997 National Health Expenditures Survey.

The survey is the largest and most reliable every conducted on CAM, according to NCCAM officials.

CAM approaches were most often used to treat back pain or problems, colds, neck pain or problems, joint pain or stiffness and anxiety or depression. Only 12 percent of adults sought care from a licensed CAM practitioner; about 8 percent (15 million people) sought help from chiropractors during the prior 12 months. The survey also said that 19.9 percent of American adults (40 million) reported ever having chiropractic care.

MOST COMMON THERAPIES

According to the survey, the most often used CAM therapies in the prior 12 months were:

• Prayer for own health — 43 percent;

• Prayer by others for the respondent’s health — 24 percent;

• Natural products (such as herbs, botanicals and enzymes) — 19 percent;

• Deep breathing exercises — 12 percent;

• Participation in prayer group for own health — 10 percent;

• Meditation — 8 percent;

• Chiropractic care — 8 percent;

• Yoga — 5 percent;

• Massage — 5 percent;

• Diet-based therapies (such as Atkins and Pritikin) — 4 percent.

The survey also reported that 1.7 percent reported using homeopathy and .2 percent naturopathy.

The five top reasons why people use CAM include:

• Back pain or problem — 16.8 percent;

• Head or chest cold — 9.5 percent;

• Neck pain or problem — 6.6 percent;

• Joint pain or stiffness — 4.9 percent.

Most (55 percent) adults reported using CAM because they believed it would help them when combined with conventional medical treatments. More than one-fourth (26 percent) said they used CAM because a conventional medical professional suggested it.

When prayer is included in the definition of CAM, the number of American adults who use it jumps to 62 percent.

The full report is available for downloading at www.nccam.nih.gov.

Sources: Stephen E. Straus, MD, director of NCCAM; Richard L. Nahin, PhD, MPH, senior advisor for Scientific Coordination and Outreach, NCCAM; “Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among Adults: United States, 2002”

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