• Sujit S Sansgiry, Shivani K Mhatre, and Sarah M Artani.
• University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA. ssanssgiry@uh.edu
• Altern Ther Health Med. 2013 May 1;19(3):10-5.

ContextThe prevalence of the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasing in developed countries, including the United States. Some patients use CAM without informing their physicians, subjecting themselves to potentially dangerous contraindications. Identifying patient populations that have an inclination to use CAM can help physicians provide patient-centered care, ensuring better health outcomes.ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the role of generational influences on the use of and attitudes toward CAM.DesignThe research team designed a cross-sectional survey that classified participants into four generational influence categories: (1) category 1-students who recently had left another country to reside in the United States without their parents, (2) category 2-students who had left another country to reside in the United States with their parents, (3) category 3-students born in the United States whose parents were born or immigrated to the United States but whose grandparents were not born in the United States, and (4) category 4-students born in the United States whose parents and grandparents were born in the United States.SettingThe study took place at the University of Houston in Houston, TexasParticipantsParticipants were 400 students from the university.Outcome MeasuresVariance was measured using a 6-item, 5-point Likert scale, analyzing differences in attitudes toward CAM. Multiple logistic and linear regressions analyses assessed the influence of generation on use of and attitudes toward CAM, respectively.ResultsParticipants in category 1 reported the highest CAM use (43.6%) and had the most positive attitude toward CAM, which significantly differed from the other categories. After controlling for covariates, generational influence as categorized was a significant (P < .05) predictor of attitude toward CAM, which in turn was a significant (P < .0001) predictor of CAM use.ConclusionsAttitudes toward CAM vary significantly by generational influence. Recent immigrants gradually assimilate and change their cultural beliefs about CAM use, and they had the highest use of and the most positive attitude toward CAM. Physicians may want to consider integrating CAM treatments for patients who have recently immigrated to the United States to enhance treatment compliance.

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