HEALTH SERVICE RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS
Please note: All posters will be displayed in
Salons 10-12.
FRIDAY, 10:15-11:00 AM
Gardiner P.
Factors associated with herb use by the United States
adult population: an analysis of National Health Interview Survey.
Osher Institute, Harvard Medical School pgardine@massmed.org
PURPOSE: To examine the patterns of herbal therapy
use among adults in the United States and to describe factors associated
with herb use.
METHODS: We examined the use of natural herbs
from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). We analyzed factors
associated with herb use with logistic regression.
RESULTS: In the U.S., 18.6% of adults reported
using an herb for their own health or treatment during the prior 12
months (2002). The following factors were associated with INCREASED
herb use: being older, uninsured, female, being educated, living in
the West, using prescription medications or over the counter medications
(OTC), and self identified as Non Hispanic other. Factors associated
with LESS herb use include: being Non Hispanic black and living in the
South or Midwest. Among adults who used herbs, the most commonly mentioned
were: echinacea (41%), ginseng (25%), gingko (22%), and garlic (20%).
The most frequent conditions for herb use were: head or chest cold (30%);
musculoskeletal conditions (16 %); and stomach or intestinal illness
(11 %). Seventy two percent of those who used herbs in the prior twelve
months also used prescription medications; 21 % of prescriptions medication
users used herbs. Over half of respondents who used an herb and a prescription
medication did not disclose this to a conventional medical professional.
CONCLUSIONS: Nearly one in five persons in U.
S, population report using an herb for treatment of health conditions
and/or health promotion. Over half OF THOSE TAKING PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS
did not disclose this information to a conventional medical professional.
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