HEALTH SERVICE RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS
Please note: All posters will be displayed in
Salons 10-12.
FRIDAY, 5:45-6:30 PM
Tudiver S, Buttar HS, Barnett R.
Striking a gender balance: a Canadian perspective on
complementary and alternative health care and therapies in women's health.
Health Canada Sari_Tudiver@hc-sc.gc.ca
PURPOSE: To identify major determinants of women's
greater use of complementary and alternative health care (CAHC) and
natural health products (NHPs) as compared to men's use in Canada.
HYPOTHESIS: Women's greater use of CAHC and
NHPs is associated with a higher incidence of long-term disability,
morbidity and co-morbidities; sex-specific needs associated with life
course experiences; ethnicity and with women's social roles as caregivers.
METHODS: A critical review, including gender-based
analysis (GBA) was applied to major Canadian surveys and to relevant
English language research, including qualitative studies, to determine
the nature of available evidence concerning gender differences in the
use of CAHC/NHPs. Chronic diseases and conditions commonly linked to
the use of CAHC/NHPs were compared with conditions unique to and more
prevalent in women than in men to identify gendered patterns of use.
Available data on the use of CAHC/NHPs by age, income and within particular
ethnic populations were also reviewed and analyzed.
RESULTS: Women and men use CAHC/NHPs for a wide
range of reasons, in particular to supplement mainstream health care
approaches in dealing with chronic conditions and chronic pain. Women's
greater use appears to be associated with their higher incidence of
long-term disability, morbidity and co-morbidities and longer-life expectancy
than men; with sex-specific needs (e.g. menstruation, pregnancy and
childbirth, and menopause) across the life course; and with their family
care-giving roles and attitudes towards self-care. Gender differences
were also identified in the use of particular CAHC/NHPs, in patterns
of information gathering, decision-making styles and in interactions
with health practitioners. However, serious gaps in evidence were identified,
such as a lack of sex-disaggregated data and of gender analysis on the
various pathways of CAHC/NHP use as part of health care choices, on
the use of products for particular conditions, on the links between
product use and health outcomes and on gender differences in use of
CAHC/NHPs in ethnic communities.
CONCLUSIONS: Use of CAHC/NHPs is a complex human
behavior to be understood in the context of gender and other health
determinants, including beliefs about health and healing. While this
review cannot identify definitive causal relationships, it provides
a useful analytic framework for enhancing the evidence base about CAHC/NHP
use in Canada. It appears that the application of GBA would provide
a wide range of research tools to better inform risk assessments of
complementary therapies and practices, including the potential for drug-herbal-food
interactions. GBA would also contribute to gender-sensitive policy development
and health promotion initiatives through appropriate evidence of NHP
efficacy and safety and information about the use of CAHC to diverse
sub-populations in Canada.
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