Ethnic differences in medicinal plant use among University students: a cross-sectional survey of self-reported medicinal plant use at two Midwest Universities

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Kelly Kindscher¹  Ashley M. Stiffarm³  Maria Pontes Ferreira²  Steven Corbett¹  Katrina C. McClure⁴  Rachel Craft⁵ 

[1] Kansas Biological Survey, University of Kansas, 2101 Constant Ave., Lawrence 66047, KS, USA;Department of Nutrition & Food Service, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit 48202, MI, USA;Department of Environmental Science, Haskell Indian Nations University, Sequoyah 140, 155 Indian Avenue, Lawrence 66046, KS, USA;Department of Geography, University of Kansas, 1475 Jayhawk Blvd., 213 Lindley Hall, Lawrence 66045, KS, USA;Department of Sociology, University of Kansas, 1415 Jayhawk Blvd., 730 Fraser Hall, Lawrence 66045, KS, USA

关键词: Undergraduates;    Surveys;    College students;    Student health;    Health disparities;    Native American;    Herbal medicine;    Alternative medicine;    US;   

Others  :  1217047
DOI  :  10.1186/s12906-015-0725-1

 received in 2014-12-02, accepted in 2015-06-15,  发布年份 2015

【 摘 要 】

Background

Numerous surveys of medicinal plant use among college students abound, but none compare use between students enrolled in two different Universities with significantly different ethnic compositions. The objective of this study is to compare medicinal plant use between two different ethnic college populations and explore differences between student medicinal plant users and non-users for comparison with previous research.

Methods

Students (n = 721) at a large research university (n = 498) and a Pan-Tribal University for Native Americans (n = 233) completed surveys in October 2011 to assess past year medicinal plant use. The Mann-Whitney U test, Chi Square test, and General Linear Model were used to compare demographics and self-reported use of medicinal plants among students at both Universities and between past year users and non-users.

Results

Over 23 % of university students surveyed reported past year medicinal plant use. Users were more likely to use commercial tobacco products and to report poorer health than non-users. While Native American student medicinal plant users reported significantly higher rates of commercial tobacco use, lower self-assessment of health, and less use of prescription medicine than non-Native users, no significant differences in prevalence of medicinal plant use were found between University student populations.

Conclusions

Results are consistent with preexisting data showing higher rates of medicinal plant use among college students compared to the larger US population of adults and demonstrate previously documented health disparities in Native American populations compared to non-Native Americans.

【 授权许可】

   
2015 Craft et al.

【 参考文献 】

• [1]Barnes PM, Bloom B, Nahin RL. Complementary and alternative medicine use among adults and children: United States, 2007. National Health Statistics Reports; No 12. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics; 2008. Available at http://nccam.nih.gov/sites/nccam.nih.gov/files/news/nhsr12.pdf. Accessed January 28, 2014
• [2]Eisenberg DM, Davis RB, Ettner SL et al.. Trends in alternative medicine use in the United States, 1990-1997: results of a follow-up national survey. JAMA. 1998; 280(18):1569-1575.
• [3]Gardiner PR, Graham R, Legedza ATR, Ahn AC, Eisenberg DM, Phillips RS. Factors associated with herbal therapy use by adults in the United States. Altern Ther Health Med. 2007; 13(2):22.
• [4]Millen A, Dodd D, Subar A. Use of vitamin, mineral, nonvitamin, and nonmineral supplements in the United States: The 1987, 1992, and 2000 National Health Interview Survey Results. J Am Diet Assoc. 2004; 104:942-950.
• [5]Peregoy JA, Clarke TC, Jones LI, Stussman BJ, Nahin RL. Regional variation in use of complementary health approaches by U.S. adults. NCHS data brief, no 146. Hyattsville, MD, National Center for Health Statistics.; 2014.
• [6]Bardia A, Nisly N, Zimmerman M, Gryzlak M, Wallace R. Use of herbs among adults based on evidence-based indications: findings from the National Health Interview Survey. Mayo Clin Proc. 2007; 82(5):561-566.
• [7]Coulter I, Willis E. The rise and rise of complementary and alternative medicine: a sociological perspective. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2004; 180:587-590.
• [8]Evans S. Changing the knowledge base in western medicine. Soc Sci Med. 2008; 67(12):2098-2106.
• [9]Goldstein M. The emerging socioeconomic and political support for alternative medicine in the United States. Ann Am Acad Pol Soc Sci. 2002; 583:44-63.
• [10]Ruggie M. Marginal to mainstream: alternative medicine in America. Cambridge University Press, New York; 2004.
• [11]Kennedy J. Herb and supplement use in the US adult population. Clin Ther. 2005; 27(11):1847-1858.
• [12]Hall LJ. Vitamin mineral herbal and other dietary supplement usage among hospitalized patients admitted to an urban medical center [thesis]. Rush University, Chicago, IL; 2007.
• [13]Egan B, Hodgkins C, Shepherd R, Timotijevic L, Raats M. An overview of consumer attitudes and beliefs about plant food supplements. Food Funct. 2011; 2:747-752.
• [14]Astin JA. Why patients use alternative medicine: results of a national study. JAMA. 1998; 279(19):1548-1553.
• [15]Ambrose E, Samuels S. Perception and use of herbals among students and their practitioners in a university setting. J Am Acad Nurse Pract. 2004; 16(4):166-176.
• [16]Radimer K, Bindewald B, Hughes J, Ervin B, Swanson C, Picciano MF. Dietary supplement use by US adults: data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2000. Am J Epidemiol. 2004; 160(4):339-349.
• [17]Perkin J, Wilson W, Schuster K, Rodriguez J, Allen-Chabot A. Prevalence of nonvitamin, nonmineral supplement usage among university students. J Am Diet Assoc. 2002; 102(3):412-414.
• [18]Kuo GM, Hawley ST, Weiss LT, Balkrishnan R, Volk RJ. Factors associated with herbal use among urban multiethnic primary care patients: a cross-sectional survey. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2004; 4(18):9.
• [19]Lohse B, Stotts J, Priebe J. Survey of herbal use by Kansas and Wisconsin WIC participants reveals moderate, appropriate use and identifies herbal education needs. J Am Diet Assoc. 2006; 106:227-237.
• [20]Roy-Byrne PP, Bystritsky A, Russo J, Craske MG, Sherbourne CD, Stein MB. Use of herbal medicine in primary care patients with mood and anxiety disorders. Psychosomatics. 2005; 46(2):117-122.
• [21]Letter HMH. Herbal and dietary supplements for depression. 2008.
• [22]Tachjian A, Maria V, Jahangir A. Use of herbal products and potential interactions in patients with cardiovascular disease. Amer J Cardiol. 2010; 55(6):515-525.
• [23]Holst J, Wright D, Haavik S, Nordeng H. The use and the user of herbal remedies during pregnancy. J Altern Complement Med. 2009; 15(7):787-792.
• [24]Nahin RL, Dahlhamer JM, Taylor BL et al.. Health behaviors and risk factors in those who use complementary and alternative medicine. BMC Public Health. 2007; 7(217):9.
• [25]Quiroz TG. 0053afe medication use among Hispanic college students: knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors [thesis]. The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX; 2010.
• [26]Johnson S, Blanchard A. Alternative medicine and herbal use among university students. J Am Coll Health. 2006; 55(3):163-168.
• [27]LaCaille R, Kuvaas N. Coping styles and self-regulation predict complementary and alternative medicine and herbal supplement use among college students. Psychol Health Med. 2004; 16(3):323-332.
• [28]Newberry H, Beerman K, Duncan S, McGuire M, Hillers V. Use of nonvitamin, nonmineral dietary supplements among college students. J Am Coll Health. 2001; 50(3):123-129.
• [29]McCrea C, Pritchard M. Concurrent herb-prescription medication use and health care provider disclosure among university students. Complement Ther Med. 2011; 19:32-36.
• [30]Foster BC, Arnason JT, Briggs CJ. Natural health products and drug disposition. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 2005; 45(1):203-226.
• [31]Berman JD, Straus SE. Implementing a research agenda for complementary and alternative medicine. Annu Rev Med. 2004; 55(1):239-254.
• [32]van Breemen RB, Fong HHS, Farnsworth NR. Ensuring the safety of botanical dietary supplements. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008; 87(2):509S-513S.
• [33]Wilkinson D. Traditional medicine in American families: reliance on the wisdom of elders. Marriage Fam Rev. 1998;11(3-4):65-76.
• [34]Buchwald D, Beals J, Manson S. Use of traditional health practices among Native Americans in a primary care setting. Med Care. 2000; 38(12):1191-1199.
• [35]Novins D, Beals J, Moore LA, Spicer P, Manson SM. Use of biomedical services and traditional healing options among American Indians: sociodemographic correlates, spirituality, and ethnic identity. Med Care. 2004; 42(7):670-679.
• [36]Fuchs M, Bashshur R. Use of traditional Indian medicine among Native Americans. Med Care. 1975; 13(11):915-927.
• [37]Johnston SL. Native American traditional and alternative medicine. Ann Am Acad Pol Soc Sci. 2002; 583:195-213.
• [38]Driskell J. Vitamin-mineral supplementation habits and beliefs of male and female graduate students. J Fam Consum Sci. 1999; 91(1):99-103.
• [39]Reeder, DL. 2013. Fall 2012 Student Facts. Available at: www.haskell.edu/downloads/registrar/enrollment%20data/FA12%20Enrollment%20Data.pdf. Accessed August 29, 2014.
• [40]KU Office of Institutional Planning and Research. 2013. Head Count By Sex; Table 4-110. Available at: www2.ku.edu/~oirp/profiles/old/4-110.pdf. Accessed August 29, 2014.
• [41]KU Office of Institutional Planning and Research. 2013. Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity; Table 4-116. Available at: www2.ku.edu/~oirp/profiles/old/4-116.pdf. Accessed August 29, 2014.
• [42]Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994. Section 6. Statements of Nutritional Support. 1994. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/RegulatoryInformation/Legislation/FederalFoodDrugandCosmeticActFDCAct/SignificantAmendmentstotheFDCAct/ucm148003.htm. Accessed January 28, 2014.
• [43]Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Bureau of Epidemiology and Public Health Informatics. Health Risk Behaviors of American Indians in Kansas, BRFSS 2011. Available at:. www. kdheks.gov/brfss/index.html webcite
• [44]Barents Group of KPMG Consulting, Inc. Disparities in health status and use of services: American Indians enrolled in Medicare managed care plans. Final report submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Contract No. HCFA-500-95-0057/TO#4; 2001. Available at: www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Research/CAHPS/downloads/03_MMCCAHPSAmIndianEnrolRPT.pdf . Accessed January 28, 2014.
• [45]Gizlice Z, Huston S. Health risks and conditions among American Indians in North Carolina. SCHS Studies, A Special Report Series by the State Center for Health Statistics, Raleigh NC; 2004. Available at: www.schs.state.nc.us/SCHS/pdf/SCHS146.pdf. Accessed January 28, 2014
• [46]National Household Survey on Drug Abuse Report. Cigarette use among American Indian/Alaskan youths; 2002, January 25. Available at: http://www.samhsa.gov/data/2k2/YouthIndianCigs/YouthIndianCigs.htm. Accessed January 28, 2014.
• [47]Rock VJ, Malarcher A, Kahende JW, Asman K, Husten C, Caraballo R. Office on Smoking and Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC. Cigarette smoking among adults—United States, 2006; 2007. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5644a2.htm. Accessed January 28, 2014.
• [48]Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Native American Health Care Disparities Briefing, February 2004; 2004. Available at: www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/usccr/documents/nativeamerianhealthcaredis.pdf. Accessed January 24, 2014.
• [49]Barnes PM, Powell-Griner E, McFann K, Nahin RL. Complementary and alternative medicine use among adults: United States, 2002. Semin Integr Med 2004;2(2):54-71.
• [50]Lai S, Lai H, Page JB, McCoy CB. The association between cigarette smoking and drug abuse in the United States. J Addict Dis. 2000; 19(4):11-24.
• [51]Lynskey MT, Heath AC, Bucholz KK et al.. Escalation of drug use in early-onset cannabis users vs co-twin controls. JAMA. 2003; 289(4):429-433.