(HealthDay News) — Many older adults report using at least one integrative medicine strategy, according to the results of the latest University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging.
Researchers from the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation in Ann Arbor surveyed 2,277 adults aged 50 to 80 years regarding their interest in and experiences with integrative medicine strategies.
According to the survey, 66% of respondents reported using at least one integrative medicine strategy to prevent or treat a health concern; 21% had an interest in trying them; and 13% had not used and had no interest in trying any integrative medicine strategies. Massage therapy, chiropractic care, meditation and mindfulness, yoga and acupuncture were the most common strategies used (41, 41, 27, 24 and 16%, respectively).
Compared with men, women were more likely to currently use integrative medicine strategies (44 versus 31%), as were those aged 50 to 64 years versus 65 to 80 years (41 versus 35%).
Ninety-one percent of older adults who used one or more integrative strategies found them beneficial (38% “very” and 53% “somewhat”).
Overall, 18% of older adults had talked to a healthcare provider about integrative medicine strategies. Twenty-six, 29 and 31% of adults said their healthcare provider asks about lifestyle factors at all, most, and some medical visits, respectively, while 14% said their healthcare provider never asks. Those whose primary care provider talked about lifestyle factors at all or most visits were more likely to use integrative strategies (42 versus 33%).
“Facilitating conversations about integrative strategies in primary care and removing barriers to these strategies when they are most likely to yield benefits may expand options for improving older adults’ health and well-being,” the authors write.
