Discriminators of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Provider Use Among Men with HIV/AIDS

• Published in: American journal of health behavior Vol. 31; no. 6; pp. 591 - 601
• Main Authors: Kaufman, Karen, Gregory, William L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States PNG Publications 01.11.2007
• Subjects: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - therapy; Adult; AIDS; Alternative Medicine; Attitude to Health; Cam Use; Complementary Therapies - manpower; Consultants; Demography; Discriminant Analysis; Educational Attainment; Ethnography; Goals; Group Membership; Health Conditions; Health Personnel - statistics & numerical data; Health Services; Health Status; HIV; HIV Infections - therapy; HIV/AIDS treatment; Humans; Internal-External Control; Locus of Control; Male; Males; Men; Mental Health Programs; Personal Satisfaction; Physicians; Prejudice; Social Influence; Social Influences; Social Networks; Social Support
• ISSN: 1087-3244; 1945-7359
• DOI: 10.5993/AJHB.31.6.4

Objective: To examine comprehensively the potential correlates of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) practitioner use among men with HIV/AIDS.Methods: Men (n=122) recruited from HIV/AIDS service organizations completed extensive written surveys. Questions comprised several domains that have been thought or demonstrated to influence individuals to use CAM, and also addressed respondents' social networks.Results: Discriminant analyses revealed 2 social network variables and 2 attitudinal variables proved statistically significant when controlling for relationships among variables.Conclusion: The significant contribution of social influence/social networks in choosing CAM modalities demonstrated has not heretofore been examined in CAM user studies; implications for future research are discussed.