Abstract
BACKGROUND: The gap in asthma prevalence, morbidity, and mortality is increasing in low-income racial/ethnic minority groups as compared with Caucasians. In order to address these disparities, alternative beliefs and behaviors need to be identified.
OBJECTIVE: To identify causal models of asthma and the context of conventional prescription versus complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in low-income African-American (AA) adults with severe asthma.
DESIGN: Qualitative analysis of 28 in-depth interviews.
PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-six women and 2 men, aged 21 to 48, who self-identified as being AA, low-income, and an inner-city resident.
APPROACH: Transcripts of semi-structured in-depth qualitative interviews were inductively analyzed using the constant comparison approach.
RESULTS: Sixty-four percent of participants held biologically correct causal models of asthma although 100% reported the use of at least 1 CAM for asthma. Biologically based therapies, humoral balance, and prayer were the most popular CAM. While most subjects trusted prescription asthma medicine, there was a preference for integration of CAM with conventional asthma treatment. Complementary and alternative medicine was considered natural, effective, and potentially curative. Sixty-three percent of participants reported nonadherence to conventional therapies in the 2 weeks before the research interview. Neither CAM nor nonmedical causal models altered most individuals (93%) willingness to use prescription medication. Three possibly dangerous CAM were identified.
CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should be aware of patient-generated causal models of asthma and use of CAM in this population. Discussing patients’ desire for an integrated approach to asthma management and involving social networks are 2 strategies that may enhance patient-provider partnerships and treatment fidelity.
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Support: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Individual National Research Service Award (1F31AT1149-01), National Institutes of Health and the American Lung Association’s Lung Health Dissertation Award.
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George, M., Birck, K., Hufford, D.J. et al. Beliefs about asthma and complementary and alternative medicine in low-income inner-city african-american adults. J GEN INTERN MED 21, 1317–1324 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00624.x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00624.x