Key Finding
Each demographic and psychosocial predictor related to a unique constellation of CAM modalities with no single predictor associated with more than half of the 12 modalities examined, indicating CAM therapies should be considered as distinct practices rather than aggregate treatments.
A large study examined what types of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) were being used by 729 U.S. veterans who recently returned from service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Researchers conducted telephone interviews to understand which veterans were choosing different therapies like acupuncture, massage, chiropractic care, yoga, meditation, and other approaches.
The study found that different types of veterans were drawn to different therapies based on their unique circumstances. Female veterans were significantly more likely to use acupuncture, along with massage, yoga, meditation, and spiritual healing. Veterans who had sustained injuries during deployment were more likely to seek out chiropractic care, nutritional counseling, and meditation. Older veterans showed greater interest in homeopathy. Importantly, no single factor predicted use of more than half of the CAM therapies studied.
What this means for veterans considering acupuncture: If you're a veteran exploring treatment options, acupuncture may be particularly helpful if you're dealing with pain from deployment injuries or seeking non-pharmaceutical approaches to wellness. The research suggests that many veterans, especially women, are already incorporating acupuncture into their healthcare. This therapy has shown benefits for chronic pain, PTSD symptoms, and other conditions common among veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs increasingly offers acupuncture services, recognizing its value for veteran populations.
If you're considering acupuncture treatment, seek a licensed acupuncturist who has experience working with veterans and understands military-related health concerns.
This cross-sectional study analyzed wave 1 data from the Survey of Experiences of Returning Veterans (SERV), examining CAM utilization patterns among 729 OEF/OIF/OND veterans via telephone interviews. The research assessed demographic, military experience, and health status correlates across 12 distinct CAM modalities.
Key findings revealed modality-specific utilization patterns rather than aggregate CAM use. Female gender significantly predicted acupuncture use, along with massage, yoga, meditation, and spiritual healing. Deployment-related injuries correlated positively with chiropractic, nutrition, and meditation utilization. Age associated only with homeopathy use. Notably, no single predictor correlated with more than 50% of examined modalities.
Clinical implications: Practitioners should recognize that CAM modalities represent distinct therapeutic approaches with unique user profiles rather than a homogeneous treatment category. For acupuncture specifically, female veterans and those with deployment injuries may represent key patient populations. Treatment planning should consider individual veteran characteristics and specific modality appropriateness rather than general CAM recommendations. These findings support tailored, modality-specific referral patterns in veteran healthcare settings.
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