Institute of Medicine Report on the
Use of CAM in the U.S.
On January 12, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies released a report on the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the U.S. The report looks at what patients and health care providers need to know about both conventional treatments and complementary and alternative therapies to make the best decisions about their use. The report examines issues of safety, effectiveness, and regulatory oversight, as well as the impact of new therapies on the evolution of health care.
Statistics on CAM Use
According to a nationwide government survey released in May 2004, 36 percent of U.S. adults aged 18 years and over use some form of CAM. CAM is defined as a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. When prayer specifically for health reasons is included in the definition of CAM, the number of U.S. adults using some form of CAM in the past year rises to 62 percent.
- Learn More in the Press Release
- Download the Report (20 pages, PDF)
Barnes P, Powell-Griner E, McFann K, Nahin R. CDC Advance Data Report #343. Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among Adults: United States, 2002. May 27, 2004.
- Statistics on CAM Use
- Download Graphics
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Use these figures in news stories or articles about CAM use in the U.S. |
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