Authors: Elliot M Ross, MD, Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD), Resident,
Michael A Darracq, MD, MPH, NMCSD, San Diego, CA.
Point of Contact:
Elliot M Ross
3323 Boundary St., San Diego, CA 92104
civ email: s5eross@yahoo.com, dod email: elliot.ross@med.navy.mil
Title: Complementary and Alternative Medicine use in Military personnel and their
families presenting to the Emergency Department
Objectives: Limited published literature is available on Complementary and Alternative
Medicine (CAM) use and attitudes toward CAM in the military community. We sought to
evaluate past experiences with CAM and perceptions of benefit, common conditions for
which CAM is used as treatment, willingness to discuss CAM with medical
professionals, and willingness to use acupuncture for acute conditions in an emergency
setting by patients and family members presenting to a tertiary military treatment facility.
Methods: After institutional review board approval, an 18 item questionnaire was
distributed to a convenience sample of ED patients and family members presenting to a
Navy tertiary care referral center. Questions included past use of CAM and the nature of
this treatment, perceptions of benefit with past treatments, willingness and desire to
discuss past or future CAM use with medical professionals, the relative importance of
CAM therapy offered by Navy Medicine, and interest in the use of CAM therapy, such as
acupuncture, for acute medical conditions in the Emergency Department setting.
Results: A response was obtained from 512 respondents. Past use of CAM therapy in
some form was reported by 49% of respondents with 88% reporting beneficial effects.
The most common forms of CAM used included massage (63.4%), Chiropractic
medicine (56.4%), herbal remedies (51.7%), yoga (42.4%), and acupuncture (34.8%).
Musculoskeletal complaints (85.5%), gastrointestinal complaints (17.4%), and
psychological complaints such as addiction treatment (15.7%) were reported indications
for seeking CAM therapy. Discussing CAM use with a treating physician or medical
provider was reported by 45.6% of respondents. The majority of respondents (88%) felt
that CAM therapies should be offered by Navy Medicine facilities. Interest in the use of
acupuncture if offered in the emergency department was reported by 83% of
respondents.
Conclusion: CAM therapy is used by the military population with generally favorable
effects reported by respondents. However, willingness to discuss CAM therapy with
treating medical providers was reported much less frequently. Respondents felt that
CAM therapies should be part of services offered by Navy Medicine facilities. The use of
acupuncture in the ED for treatment of presenting complaints was met with interest by
respondents. Further studies are necessary to determine indications, efficacy, and patient
satisfaction with such therapy in an emergent setting.