• Ted R Mikuls, Amy S Mudano, LeaVonne Pulley, and Kenneth G Saag.
• Department of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology and Immunology, University of Nebraska Medical Center and the Omaha VA Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
• Med Care. 2003 Nov 1; 41 (11): 1233-9.

BackgroundThe role of race/ethnicity in the receipt of arthritis-specific health care has not been well defined.ObjectiveTo examine the association of race/ethnicity with the utilization of arthritis health care among community-dwelling older adults.Research DesignWe used a computer-assisted telephone interview.SubjectsA population-based random sample was drawn from 6 preselected Alabama counties. Eligible respondents had self-reported arthritis and were over 50 years of age; 1424 people responded to the survey.MeasuresLogistic regression was used to examine the association of race/ethnicity with the use of conventional (including use of a rheumatologist, primary care physician, and prescription arthritis medicines) and complementary and alternative medicines (CAM), including the use of chiropractic care, glucosamine and/or chondroitin, and herbals.ResultsReflecting stratified sampling, respondents were white (n=852, 60%) or black (n=528, 37%), female (72%), and had a mean age of 65 years. After multivariable adjustment, race/ethnicity was not a significant determinant of receiving rheumatology care or prescription arthritis medicines. However, whites were more likely than blacks to have seen a primary care physician for arthritis care (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-1.98) or to have used CAM (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.13-1.91) and twice as likely to have used glucosamine and/or chondroitin (OR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.30-3.05).ConclusionIn this population of community-dwelling older adults, white race was significantly associated with CAM use and visits to primary care physicians for arthritis care. In contrast, the use of specialists and prescription arthritis medications was better explained by factors other than race/ethnicity, which included female gender, urban residence, higher educational level, and other arthritis-specific variables.

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