Shantel Baughman
There was a study undertaken to show the extent that
traditional health practices are used by urban Native Americans
primary care patients, to identify related patient characteristics, to
determine associations with health status and functioning, and to describe
attitudes about care received.
Methods. This study used a brief self-report survey of 869 adult
patients randomly sampled over a 14-month period from a comprehensive
urban primary care program. Current medications were determined by follow-up
medical record review.
Results. Seventy percent of urban patients in primary care
often used traditional health practices; use was strongly associated with
cultural affiliation. In bivariate analyses, use was significantly associated
with male gender, cultural affiliation, poor functional status, alcohol abuse,
and trauma and, except for musculoskeletal pain, not with specific medical
problems. The multiple logistic regression model for any use versus no use was
significant. Being of male gender, having more than a high school education, visiting
friends/relatives on a reservation, living the Native way of
life, and not the white way, experiencing
back pain, and having a physical injury inflicted by a family
member were predictive of use.
Conclusions. The results in this clinical setting suggest that
health care providers should anticipate use of traditional health practices
among urban patients. Use was predicted by important demographic,
clinical, and cultural characteristics
traditional health practices are used by urban Native Americans
primary care patients, to identify related patient characteristics, to
determine associations with health status and functioning, and to describe
attitudes about care received.
Methods. This study used a brief self-report survey of 869 adult
patients randomly sampled over a 14-month period from a comprehensive
urban primary care program. Current medications were determined by follow-up
medical record review.
Results. Seventy percent of urban patients in primary care
often used traditional health practices; use was strongly associated with
cultural affiliation. In bivariate analyses, use was significantly associated
with male gender, cultural affiliation, poor functional status, alcohol abuse,
and trauma and, except for musculoskeletal pain, not with specific medical
problems. The multiple logistic regression model for any use versus no use was
significant. Being of male gender, having more than a high school education, visiting
friends/relatives on a reservation, living the Native way of
life, and not the white way, experiencing
back pain, and having a physical injury inflicted by a family
member were predictive of use.
Conclusions. The results in this clinical setting suggest that
health care providers should anticipate use of traditional health practices
among urban patients. Use was predicted by important demographic,
clinical, and cultural characteristics