Use of complementary medicine and uptake of COVID-19 vaccination among US adults

This study investigated the association between complementary medicine (CM) use and the uptake of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and flu vaccines in a nationally representative US sample. A secondary analysis of the 2022 National Health Interview Survey data indicated that, after accounting for...

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Main Authors: Holger Cramer, Mirela Bilc
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1474914/full
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author Holger Cramer
Holger Cramer
Mirela Bilc
Mirela Bilc
author_facet Holger Cramer
Holger Cramer
Mirela Bilc
Mirela Bilc
author_sort Holger Cramer
collection DOAJ
description This study investigated the association between complementary medicine (CM) use and the uptake of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and flu vaccines in a nationally representative US sample. A secondary analysis of the 2022 National Health Interview Survey data indicated that, after accounting for potential confounders, overall use of CM was not a significant predictor of COVID-19 (p = 0.745) or flu vaccination uptake (p = 0.123). However, vaccination uptake was lower for both COVID-19 and flu vaccines, respectively, in individuals who visited chiropractors (AOR = 0.78, 95% CI [0.69, 0.89], p < 0.001; AOR = 0.71, 95% CI [0.63, 0.81], p < 0.001) and naturopaths (AOR = 0.66, 95% CI [0.51, 0.86], p = 0.002; AOR = 0.72, 95% CI [0.55, 0.94], p = 0.017). Uptake rates for both COVID-19 and flu vaccines were higher among individuals who visited an acupuncturist (COVID-19: AOR = 1.46, 95% CI [1.15, 1.86], p = 0.002; flu: AOR = 1.32, 95% CI [1.08, 1.63], p = 0.008). The use of mind–body medicine was associated with increased likelihood of COVID-19 vaccination uptake (AOR = 1.24, 95% CI [1.08, 1.42], p = 0.002), but not flu vaccination (p = 0.264). Visiting a massage therapist was not a significant predictor of either COVID-19 or flu vaccine uptake (p = 0.128 and p = 0.232, respectively). Overall, the pattern of associations between CM use and COVID-19 vaccination uptake was comparable to that of flu vaccination uptake.
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spelling doaj-art-13dee33d0a184d44b9123bbe7ea26a432025-08-20T03:46:42ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-06-011210.3389/fmed.2025.14749141474914Use of complementary medicine and uptake of COVID-19 vaccination among US adultsHolger Cramer0Holger Cramer1Mirela Bilc2Mirela Bilc3Institute of General Practice and Interprofessional Care, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, GermanyBosch Health Campus, Stuttgart, GermanyInstitute of General Practice and Interprofessional Care, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, GermanyBosch Health Campus, Stuttgart, GermanyThis study investigated the association between complementary medicine (CM) use and the uptake of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and flu vaccines in a nationally representative US sample. A secondary analysis of the 2022 National Health Interview Survey data indicated that, after accounting for potential confounders, overall use of CM was not a significant predictor of COVID-19 (p = 0.745) or flu vaccination uptake (p = 0.123). However, vaccination uptake was lower for both COVID-19 and flu vaccines, respectively, in individuals who visited chiropractors (AOR = 0.78, 95% CI [0.69, 0.89], p < 0.001; AOR = 0.71, 95% CI [0.63, 0.81], p < 0.001) and naturopaths (AOR = 0.66, 95% CI [0.51, 0.86], p = 0.002; AOR = 0.72, 95% CI [0.55, 0.94], p = 0.017). Uptake rates for both COVID-19 and flu vaccines were higher among individuals who visited an acupuncturist (COVID-19: AOR = 1.46, 95% CI [1.15, 1.86], p = 0.002; flu: AOR = 1.32, 95% CI [1.08, 1.63], p = 0.008). The use of mind–body medicine was associated with increased likelihood of COVID-19 vaccination uptake (AOR = 1.24, 95% CI [1.08, 1.42], p = 0.002), but not flu vaccination (p = 0.264). Visiting a massage therapist was not a significant predictor of either COVID-19 or flu vaccine uptake (p = 0.128 and p = 0.232, respectively). Overall, the pattern of associations between CM use and COVID-19 vaccination uptake was comparable to that of flu vaccination uptake.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1474914/fullCOVID-19fluinfluenzavaccinecomplementary medicineNHIS
spellingShingle Holger Cramer
Holger Cramer
Mirela Bilc
Mirela Bilc
Use of complementary medicine and uptake of COVID-19 vaccination among US adults
Frontiers in Medicine
COVID-19
flu
influenza
vaccine
complementary medicine
NHIS
title Use of complementary medicine and uptake of COVID-19 vaccination among US adults
title_full Use of complementary medicine and uptake of COVID-19 vaccination among US adults
title_fullStr Use of complementary medicine and uptake of COVID-19 vaccination among US adults
title_full_unstemmed Use of complementary medicine and uptake of COVID-19 vaccination among US adults
title_short Use of complementary medicine and uptake of COVID-19 vaccination among US adults
title_sort use of complementary medicine and uptake of covid 19 vaccination among us adults
topic COVID-19
flu
influenza
vaccine
complementary medicine
NHIS
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1474914/full
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