Skip to main content

Table 1 Descriptive Characteristics of Sample Adults Not Using Conventional Care in the Past 12 Months1

From: Health need and the use of alternative medicine among adults who do not use conventional medicine

Variable

All Adults

Percent Using Alternative Medicine

Chi-square

p-value2

External Environment

   

Region

  

<.01

   Northeast

14.4

24.8

 

   Midwest

23.9

27.0

 

   South

37.8

21.6

 

   West

23.9

27.5

 

MSA Status

  

.57

   MSA, central city

32.5

23.9

 

   MSA, non-central city

48.0

25.5

 

   Non-MSA

19.5

24.4

 

Predisposing Factors

   

Sex

  

<.01

   Male

69.5

23.3

 

   Female

30.5

28.1

 

Age

  

<.001

   18-24

18.4

21.2

 

   25-44

47.9

25.6

 

   45-64

26.6

27.1

 

   65+

7.1

19.6

 

Race/Ethnicity

  

<.001

   Hispanic

18.6

16.8

 

   Non-Hispanic white

64.2

27.6

 

   Non-Hispanic black

10.9

18.8

 

   Non-Hispanic other

6.3

30.0

 

Education

  

<.001

   Less than high school

21.9

12.6

 

   High school diploma/G.E.D.

30.5

22.3

 

   Some college/AA degree

27.7

30.7

 

   Bachelor's or higher

19.9

34.1

 

Class of Worker

  

<.01

   Private sector

58.3

24.5

 

   Government

7.5

27.9

 

   Self-employed/family business

8.8

31.6

 

   Not working

25.3

22.6

 

Born in the U.S.

  

<.001

   Yes

77.0

26.5

 

   No

23.0

19.2

 

Enabling Factors

   

Poverty Status

  

<.001

   Poor

13.8

19.9

 

   Near poor

20.9

21.8

 

   Not poor

65.2

26.8

 

Marital Status

  

.11

   Never married

27.1

22.8

 

   Married/cohabiting

59.6

25.3

 

   Divorced/separated

10.1

27.7

 

   Widowed

3.2

22.9

 

Health Insurance Coverage

  

<.001

   Uninsured

33.5

24.7

 

   Private coverage

58.2

25.9

 

   Public coverage

8.3

17.4

 

Usual Place for Care

  

.52

   Yes

61.6

25.1

 

   No

38.4

24.3

 

Health Need Factors

   

Reported Health Status

  

.15

   Poor/fair

5.2

21.1

 

   Good/very good/excellent

94.8

24.9

 

Health Compared to 12 Months Ago

  

<.001

   Worse

3.7

37.1

 

   About the same

83.7

22.5

 

   Better

12.6

36.5

 

Functional Limitation

  

<.001

   Yes

14.5

35.8

 

   No

85.5

22.9

 

Respondent Reported a Serious Chronic or Acute Condition?

  

<.001

   Yes

23.8

30.7

 

   No

76.2

22.6

 

Respondent Reported Back Problems

  

<.001

   Yes

17.8

37.8

 

   No

82.2

22.0

 

One or More Health Needs 3

  

<.001

   Yes

39.5%

31.5

 

   No

60.5

20.0

 

Personal Health Practices

   

Leisure-Time Physical Activity

  

<.001

   Never/unable

42.2

15.1

 

   Some activity

27.8

27.7

 

   Regular activity

30.1

35.5

 

Alcohol Drinking Status

  

<.001

   Lifetime abstainer

25.0

16.9

 

   Former drinker

11.2

27.2

 

   Light/infrequent

40.1

26.9

 

   Moderate/heavy

23.7

29.4

 

Smoking Status

  

<.05

   Current smoker

29.0

24.8

 

   Former smoker

14.5

30.1

 

   Never smoked

56.5

23.5

 

Barriers to conventional care

   

Delayed Care Due to Cost and/or non-Cost Barriers

  

<.001

   Yes

13.2

39.1

 

   No

86.8

22.5

 
  1. 1 Approximately 19% (n = 5,383) of adults did not use some form of conventional care in the past 12 months.
  2. 2 Chi-square analysis was used to identify statistically significant associations between the independent/control variables and the dependent variable (use of alternative medicine only versus use of neither alternative medicine nor conventional care).
  3. 3 This measure is defined as any one of: poor or fair health; health is worse off than it was 12 months ago; one or more serious chronic or acute conditions; a functional limitation; and/or back problems.