Complementary and Alternative Medicine Usage across Nations (June 2014)

Between 2000-2010, the Asian population grew the most in America, increasing by 43%. It is important for health care workers to be able to provide culturally sensitive care to individuals of different ethnic backgrounds, such as Asians, who may be either Hindu or Buddhist. Many times, these individuals are more comfortable utilizing Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) for treatment before exploring Western treatment. CAM will be described in detail within the body of this paper. The differences in not only health care systems between Indonesia, Nepal, and the United States, but also CAM usage among the three countries will be discussed. Advantages and disadvantages in relation to CAM usage will be addressed as well as implications for nurses who are looking to widen their scope of practice.