Abstract

Intergenerational Differences in using Complementary and Alternative Medicine Practices

Author(s):Hilal Uysal, Busra Cansu Karvel and Murat Yigit

Objective: This study aims to discover the reasons for using CAM practices among individuals in different age groups, to examine the differences between generations in terms of CAM use, and to explore the attitudes and behaviors of different generations regarding CAM use. Methods: This study was conducted between November 2016 and April 2017 with 320 people who agreed to participate in the study. Questionnaires were used to determine their sociodemographic characteristics as well as attitudes and behaviors towards the use of CAM practices. Results: Of the participants, 67.2% were female; 14.4%, 10.9%, 20.6%, and 54.1% were in the experienced-silent, baby boomer, X, and Y generations, respectively; and 65% experienced at least one CAM practice. The study determined that 50% of the participants in the experienced-silent generation, 65.7% of the participants in the baby boomer generation, 59.1% of the participants in the X generation, and 71.1% of the participants in the Y generation had used CAM practices. A statistically significant difference was found between these generations in terms of CAM use (p<0.05). Conclusions: The present study determined that the number of CAM users has been increasing, and found that the majority of participants had knowledge about CAM practices, but did not consider CAM as a better treatment option. They did not agree that alternative therapies were as effective as conventional therapies, so they were hesitant to use CAM practices.

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