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The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Practices Among Australian University Students
Robert H. Feldman, PhD
University of Maryland
Ronald Laura, DPhil
University of Newcastle in Australia
A survey of 518 university students in Australia was conducted to gain a better understanding of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use. Results indicated that 81.1% of the students used at least 1 of 24 CAM practices. Top practices were relaxation, massage, herbs, art therapy, and prayer. The most common health reasons for using CAM were stress or psychosomatic issues (i.e., anxiety, allergies, stress, and headaches). Other reasons reflected a positive perspective: lifestyle, availability, and holistic health. Students who did not use CAM cited economic factors as the chief reason. Thus, these results offer further insights into the growing worldwide use of CAM.
Key Words: alternative medicine • Australian university students
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Complementary Health Practice Review, Vol. 9, No. 3,
173-179 (2004)
DOI: 10.1177/1533210104272356
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