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Health Care Industry

Use of nontraditional therapies—implications for older adults

AORN Journal, May, 2003 by Linda C. Haynes, Jan Hoot Martin, Dianne Endres

As consumers become more educated, they are taking greater control of decisions regarding their health care. Some see this as a "return to our roots." Others see it as a response to runaway costs, growing dissatisfaction with the paternalistic attitude of some health care providers, and increasing concerns regarding the adverse effects and misuse of medications and other treatments. Still others see this change as an attempt by consumers to avoid potential surgical intervention. Additionally, conventional medical treatment may be financially prohibitive, especially for those lacking insurance. Although most consumers do not wish to abandon conventional medicine, they do wish to take a more active role in choosing health care options.

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NONTRADITIONAL THERAPIES AND OLDER ADULTS

Worldwide, the number of older adults is increasing, and older adults comprise the fastest growing population group in the United States. By the year 2030, 70 million Americans will be older than age 65. (1) As the population ages, the number of people with chronic illnesses increases. Although consumers generally are satisfied with the success of traditional western (ie, allopathic) medicine in treating infection and acute illness, they are increasingly dissatisfied with traditional medicine's inability to adequately treat chronic disease.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than 90 million Americans live with chronic illnesses, and chronic disease accounts for 70% of all deaths in the United States. (2) Conventional medicine offers palliative treatments for chronic disease symptoms, but these often are associated with minimal success and adverse effects. In response to conventional medicine's failure to provide a cure for chronic illness, many older adults have turned to nontraditional therapies, often perceiving these therapies as safer and equally, if not more, effective than traditional treatment protocols.

Consumers are influenced by the cures promised by advertisers; therefore, the number of individuals seeking nontraditional treatment has increased dramatically in all age groups. (3) Four out of 10 Americans have used at least one nontraditional health care treatment. (4) Studies suggest mat users of nontraditional therapies tend to be young, female, educated, and of upper socioeconomic status. (5) Reports from clinicians providing care to older adult patients, however, indicate that these patients are beginning to express interest in learning more about nontraditional approaches to health care. (6)

The appeal of nontraditional therapies to older adults may be due, in part, to increasing availability of information regarding these treatment options. Book stores now dedicate entire sections to alternative therapies. Older Americans also are becoming more computer literate and, thus, have easy access to health care information via the Internet. In addition, advertisers are promoting their products to older adults more actively and effectively.

Unfortunately, the use of nontraditional therapies may result in delayed seeking of traditional health care options (eg, surgery) and worsening symptoms. Many patients perceive that nontraditional therapies have brought them an improved quality of life. When faced with the need for a surgical procedure, patients may be reluctant to interrupt the use of these therapies (eg, discontinuing use of herbs that promote sedation or increase clotting time). As use of these treatments becomes more common, perioperative nurses need to be aware of the effects of nontraditional therapies used by older adults and maintain current knowledge of both traditional and nontraditional approaches to health care.

COMPLEMENTARY VERSUS ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES

Complementary and alternative medicine is a broad term that describes a wide spectrum of care, including, but not limited to,

* chiropractic therapy,

* use of herbs and mineral and vitamin supplements,

* manual healing methods,

* acupressure and acupuncture,

* relaxation therapy, and

* massage therapy.

Although relatively new to the American public, alternative therapies have been used widely throughout the world for generations. Alternative therapies often are defined as those health strategies not generally available in hospitals or widely included in medical school curricula. (7)

Complementary therapies are those interventions used by patients in addition to the traditional treatment recommended by their primary care provider. Complementary therapies supplement traditional allopathic treatment and, therefore, are intended to improve health care outcomes. Conversely, alternative therapies are those treatment modalities used exclusively to replace conventional allopathic medicine. (8) Data suggest that, in the United States, only about 2% of individuals use nontraditional therapies alone to replace traditional medicine. (9) Treatments initially intended to be complementary, however, become alternative when consumers turn away from traditional medicine. (10) A term that is emerging in the literature, integrative therapies, suggests an approach to health care that incorporates both nontraditional and traditional treatment methods in the same health care setting. (11)

Health Care Industry

Use of nontraditional therapies—implications for older adults

AORN Journal, May, 2003 by Linda C. Haynes, Jan Hoot Martin, Dianne Endres

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