Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among Korean American Older Adults: A Multilevel Analysis

TL;DR

This study explores why Korean American older adults use traditional complementary and alternative medicine, finding that personal health, cultural factors, and geography play a role.

Contribution

The study introduces a multilevel analysis of TCAM use among Korean American older adults, linking individual and geographic factors.

Findings

Individual factors like arthritis, health needs, and lack of interest in work/leisure are positively associated with TCAM use.

State-level differences in TCAM use remain significant after accounting for individual factors.

Cultural and geographic factors influence health behaviors, suggesting a need for tailored healthcare services.

Abstract

Korean American older adults (KAOAs) often face challenges in accessing the conventional healthcare system due to limited knowledge of the healthcare system, financial constraints, and cultural or linguistic differences that may affect their health beliefs and behaviors. As a result, many KAOAs turn to traditional complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM). However, research on TCAM use among this population remains limited. To address this knowledge gap, this study examined individual and geographic level factors associated with TCAM utilization. Data were drawn from the Study of Older Korean Americans (SOKA), a cross-sectional survey conducted between 2017 and 2018 across five states (California, New York, Texas, Hawaii, and Florida) (N = 2,150). Binomial logistic and multilevel logistic regression analyses were conducted. Findings from binomial logistic regression showed that several individual-level factors were positively associated with TCAM use, including health/well-being factors [arthritis (OR = 1.55, p<.001), health needs (OR = 1.12, p<.01), and lack of interest in work/leisure (OR = 1.74, p<.01)]; acculturation factor (use English frequently, OR = 1.45); demographic factors [gender (OR = 1.31), spirituality (OR = 1.31), perception Korean community density (OR = 1.38)]. Multilevel analysis further revealed significant state-level differences in TCAM use after controlling for the individual factors. These findings suggest that age-related physical/emotional changes may drive TCAM utilization, highlighting its potential role as a preventive health measure among ethnic minority older adults. Variations in TCAM use across states reveal the influence of community and geographic factors that shape the health-promoting behaviors of ethnic minorities, calling for culturally tailored healthcare services.