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Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Published in: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health 6/2008

01-12-2008 | Original Paper

The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Chinese Canadians: Results from a National Survey

Authors: Marilyn A. Roth, Karen M. Kobayashi

Published in: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health | Issue 6/2008

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Abstract

This study examines the relationship between Chinese Canadian ethnicity and the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and explores some of the factors that contribute to CAM use among this visible minority group. Using data from cycle 2.1 of the Canadian Community Health Survey (2003), we use multivariate logistic regression to investigate the extent to which CAM use varies among Chinese Canadians and non-Chinese Canadians. Two three-way interactions, which demonstrate how the combination of certain identity markers increases their predictive value within the model, are also examined. The use of CAM varies according to ethnicity, with Chinese Canadians being more likely to use than non-Chinese Canadians. The findings also indicate that cultural factors play a key role in establishing the necessary conditions for increasing the likelihood of CAM use for Chinese Canadians. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications for health care policy and program development.
Footnotes
1
It should be noted that the odds ratios from the interaction between ethnicity, time since immigration, and gender should be interpreted using non-Chinese, Canadian-born women as the reference group. Their odds ratio is 1.00.
 
2
Odds ratios for this interaction between ethnicity, time since immigration, and sense of belonging to the local community, should be interpreted in reference to non-Chinese Canadians who have a strong sense of belonging to their local community and who do not live in a CMA. They have an odds ratio of 1.00.
 
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Metadata
Title
The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Chinese Canadians: Results from a National Survey
Authors
Marilyn A. Roth
Karen M. Kobayashi
Publication date
01-12-2008
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health / Issue 6/2008
Print ISSN: 1557-1912
Electronic ISSN: 1557-1920
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-008-9141-7

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