Question

Academic research paper about alternative healing modalities through the lens of their respective liberal studies concentration.

method of analysis, and results/discussion sections.

Base on African American cultural background, social position, values of low income

Answer 1

1. Alternative/Complementary modalities have been defined as treatment techniques whose goals are to evoke healing, taking into account the body-mind-spirit connection of every individual.

Background:

The use of CAM is at an all time high. There is very little research that compares the use of CAM in elders by ethnicity in rural settings. The purpose of the study was to determine if there was a difference between African American and Caucasian American rural elders on use of CAM and self-reported satisfaction with CAM.

Methods:

The design was a descriptive, comparative study of 183 elders who reported the number of CAM used and satisfaction with CAM. A convenience sample was recruited through community service organizations in the state of Mississippi. The availability of elders through the support groups, sampling bias, subject effect, and self-report were limitations of the study.

Results:

The commonest examples of CAM used by rural elders were prayer, vitamins, exercise, meditation, herbs, chiropractic medicine, glucosamine, and music therapy. Significant findings on SES and marital status were calculated. Differences on ethnicity and demographic variables were significant for age, education, and the use of glucosamine.

Conclusions:

Health care providers must be aware that elders are using CAM and are satisfied with their use. Identifying different uses of CAM by ethnicity is important for health care practitioners, impacting how health care is provided.

Background:

An increasing number of people are using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). According to recent studies, 42.1 % of the American population uses some form of CAM, with 39% of the older population using CAM [1, 2]. In 1997, total spending on CAM was estimated at $32.7 billion dollars, up from $22.6 billion in 1990, a substantial increase that indicates an escalating portion of the population is seeking CAM

[2]. Patients may choose to use CAM as a substitute or in conjunction with conventional medicine for a variety of reasons, including.

1) dissatisfaction with health care providers and medical outcomes

2) side effects of drugs or treatments

3) high health costs (specifically medications)

4) lack of control in their own health care practices.

5) impersonal and technological health care [3–5].

Research studies have not reported on CAM use among rural residents, older adults in culturally diverse groups. In rural settings, limited access to medical care often leads to late diagnosis, postponement of treatment, and greater impairments.

6. The older population is a group that has more chronic illnesses, takes longer to recover when sick, and often needs more health care services than their younger cohorts

7] This may result in CAM use, often influenced by folklore and cultural beliefs. Understanding choices of CAM use is critical to provide optimal care to older, rural patients as certain remedies may be harmful or interfere with conventional medicine.

8. With the increase in the older population and the number of persons who are choosing CAM, there has been a demand for research to examine the feasibility, benefits, clinical usefulness and development of CAM interventions in older adults. A large proportion of older adults are interested in learning more about CAM and the benefits to health.

9. However, there is very little research that describes CAM use in minority older adults. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare older African Americans (AA) and Caucasian Americans (CA) over the age of 50 on

1) use of CAM.

2) self-reported overall satisfaction with CAM being used.

*-Base on African American cultural background, social position, values of low income is as follows:

Analysis is the study of how a job is done. Whereas job design shows the structure of the job and names the tasks within the structure, methods analysis details the tasks and how to do them. Methods analysis. Process concerned with the detailed process for doing a particular job.

The purpose of this study is to identify the types of and frequency of use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) strategies among low-income Caucasian and African American adults with persistent asthma. The overall goal is to collect data that will increase understanding of health beliefs and behaviors in people with low-income backgrounds so that studies can be created that may help modify and improve patients' symptoms of asthma.

Condition or disease
Asthma

Detailed Description:

The rates of asthma-related deaths and disease are disproportionately high among African Americans compared to Caucasians. Surveys indicate that middle- and upper-income Caucasians use more CAM than African Americans, but the therapies utilized are different. This study will determine how well people with persistent asthma adhere to their treatment and whether the type and frequency of use of CAM affects treatment adherence.

Participants will begin this study by taking part in an interview about adherence to their current inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) regimen and their personal CAM use. After completing the interview, participant adherence to their ICS regimen will be monitored for 6 weeks. Depending on the type of ICS participants are taking, monitoring will be conducted either by participant self-reporting or electronic monitors that record the time and date of medication inhalation. Participant adherence will also be assessed at study completion.