Identifying profiles of complementary and alternative medicine believers and/or users

Abstract

The present study focuses on the identification of profiles of CAM believers and/or users. Using data from the Spanish CIS Barometer (2018) and a sample of 2486 Spaniards, a hierarchical and non-hierarchical cluster analysis and discriminant analysis have been performed. Profiles of people with a high level of belief in CAM and/or CAM users were identified. Results reflect relationships between personal factors (healthy lifestyle and status, political and religious ideology) and satisfaction with conventional medicine with the belief/use of CAM. Personal factors and satisfaction are not related to the level of belief in CAM. We have tried to fulfil some gaps detected in the literature: much of the research has been methodologically limited and there is a need to deepen the study of factors and processes that favor the initial uptake and subsequent use of CAM. Doing this, this paper offers diverse recommendations for organizations worried about this theme.

Keywords: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM); Conventional medicine satisfaction level; Health status; Healthy lifestyle; Political and religious ideology.