Sociodemographic Factors Among Veterans Recently Separated From The Military: Effect On Using Alternative Medicine
Open Access
Author:
Giblin, Brody
Area of Honors:
Health Policy and Administration
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Dennis G Shea, Thesis Supervisor Selena E Ortiz, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Alternative Medicine Veterans Use of CAM Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Abstract:
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is a form of care not typically seen as conventional medicine. It includes more holistic treatment approaches like acupuncture, yoga, or chiropractic care. This form of care avoids the possible side effects that are typically seen with conventional medicine. CAM has been growing in use in the general population, but is less studied in individuals who just separated from the military, although they are more likely to be suffering from illnesses ranging from chronic care to mental illnesses, conditions where CAM is often used. The purpose of this thesis is to study CAM use among veterans using data from The Veterans Metrics Initiative and determine if there are any significant relationships between its use and different sociodemographic factors. A summary of the literature, a statistical analysis of recent survey of veterans, and a discussion of the findings, including the limitations of the study, will be presented.
