dc.description.abstract | Background: CAM has gained increased popularity in Western countries in recent years. Its use is commonly associated with chronic diseases management and disease prevention. While CAM utilization is becoming more usual, the population-based descriptions of its patterns of use are still lacking; little research has been devoted to exploring whether the prevalence of CAM and socio-demographic characteristics of CAM users change over time, particularly in Norway. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate changes in the prevalence and socio-demographic characteristics of CAM users in a large adult population in Norway from 2002 to 2012. Methods: Data was obtained from two nationally representative cross-sectional household surveys of the noninstitutionalized civilian populations of Norwegians aged 16 years old and over conducted by Statistics Norway ("Level of living 2002 - Cross sectional study - Health", N=6827 and "Survey on living conditions, health, care and social contact 2012", N=5660). A multistage stratified probability sampling design to randomly select a representative sample of Norwegian residents was employed in both surveys. Use of CAM was determined by whether the respondents had visited a CAM practitioner during the last 12 months. Binary logistic regression modeling was used to explore whether and what socio-demographic factors predicted CAM use. A test of difference (Ratio Odds Ratio) between the results of multivariate logistic regression analysis for each year for all variables was employed to analyze the changes from 2002 to 2012. Results: In 2002, 8,7% (95% CI: 8,0% – 9,0%) of the population visited some type of CAM practitioner during the previous year, and this increased significantly (p=0,007) to 9,8% (95% CI: 9,0% - 11,0%) in 2012. The variables which were associated with increased odds of seeing a CAM practitioner from 2002 to 2012 at a 5% significance level were being 25-44 years old (ROR 1,90), having weight between 56-65 kg (ROR 2,0) or more than 86 kg (ROR 2,05). A decrease in the odds of visiting a CAM practitioner was found for non-smokers (ROR 0,73), and those having visited a chiropractor in the last 12 months (ROR 0,67). Conclusion: CAM use in the form of visits to CAM practitioners in the last 12 months in the Norwegian population aged 16 years and over has increased significantly between 2002 and 2012. The study did not find any change in possible resorting to CAM services during this time period for females, nor were the social contact group variables regarded as predictive of CAM use in both years and having a consecutive differential change. However, younger people were discovered to be more likely visiting a CAM practitioner in 2012 compared to 2002. These findings indicate apparently a new trend in CAM consumption in Norway that should be studied further. | eng |