Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations University of Queenlsand Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations

Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations

 
 


Complementary and alternative medicine

The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health has provided much information about the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by older women as they age from their early seventies to their earlier eighties. There were 6044 women who answered the question related to consultation with a CAM practitioner at all four survey points.

The figure shows that the percentage of women who consulted a CAM practitioner in the years 1996, 1999, 2002, and 2005 declined with each survey (14.6%, 12.1%, 10.9% and 9.9% respectively). Of these women: none indicated CAM use at all four surveys; 0.6% indicated CAM use at 3 surveys; 7.0% indicated CAM use at 2 surveys; 31.9% indicated CAM use at 1 survey; and 60.5% indicated that they did not use CAM at any survey. The likelihood of women using CAM increases with an increasing number of symptoms, with poorer physical health, and if they live in a non-urban area.

A number of projects examining CAM use among the other cohorts of women have been completed or are currently in progress and further information is available on the website.

CAM use among older women at Surveys 1 to 4.

References
1. Adams J, Sibbritt DW, Easthope G, Young AF. (2003). The profile of women who use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in Australia. The Medical Journal of Australia, 179, 297-300.
2. Sibbritt DW, Adams J, Young AF. (2005) A longitudinal analysis of mid-aged women’s use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in Australia, 1996-1998. Women & Health; 40(4): 41-56.

For further information on complementary and alternative medicine, see our other publications:

Papers

  • Sibbritt D, Adams J, Easthope G & Young A. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among elderly Australian women who have cancer. Supportive Care in Cancer, 2003; 11: 548-550.
  • Adams J, Sibbritt D, Easthope G & Young A. The profile of women who consult alternative health practitioners in Australia. Medical Journal of Australia, 2003; 179(6): 297-300.
  • Sibbritt DW, Adams J & Young AF. A longitudinal analysis of Mid-age women’s use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in Australia, 1996-1998. Women & Health, 2005; 40(4): 41-56.
  • Adams J, Sibbritt D & Young AF. Naturopathy/herbalism consultations by mid-aged Australian women with cancer. European Journal of Cancer Care, 2005; 145: 443-447.


 
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Last updated: 20th December 2007 by Cath Chojenta © Copyright