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Table 1 Basic characteristics of the studied participants

From: Gender specific association between the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and alcohol consumption and injuries caused by drinking in the sixth Tromsø study

 

Total

n = 12813a (%)

Men

n = 5994a (%)

Women

n = 6819a (%)

P-value

Percentage women

53.2

   

Age, mean (SD)

57.4 (12.6)

57.4 (12.3)

57.3 (12.9)

0.717b

Education, n (%)

 Compulsory

3596 (28.4)

1478 (25.0)

2118 (31.5)

 

 Middle level

4241 (33.6)

2096 (35.4)

2146 (31.9)

 

 College/University

4809 (38.0)

2349 (39.7)

2460 (36.6)

< 0.000c

Household income, n (%)

 Low to middle income < 400,000 NOK/40,000 €)

4569 (38.5)

1842 (32.0)

2727 (44.6)

 

 Middle to high income (401,000–700,000 NOK/40,100–70,000 €)

4199 (35.4)

2235 (38.9)

1964 (32.1)

 

 High income (701,000 NOK / 70,100 € or more)

3093 (26.1)

1668 (29.0)

1425 (23.3)

< 0.000c

Self-reported health status, n (%)

 Very bad or bad

686 (5.4)

279 (4.7)

407 (6.0)

 

 Neither good nor bad

3633 (28.6)

1671 (28.1)

1962 (29.1)

 

 Good or excellent

8386 (66.0)

4004 (67.2)

4382 (64.9)

0.001c

Alcohol frequency of use, n (%)

 Never

1413 (11.2)

454 (7.6)

959 (14.3)

 

 Monthly or more infrequently

3633 (28.7)

1545 (26.0)

2088 (31.1)

 

 2–4 times a month

4834 (38.2)

2481 (41.7)

2353 (35.0)

 

 2–3 times a week

2155 (17.0)

1125 (18.9)

1030 (15.3)

 

 More that 3 times a week

634 (5.0)

342 (5.8)

292 (4.3)

< 0.000c

Units of alcohol consumed when drinking, n (%)

 1–2 units

7095 (63.3)

2858 (52.3)

4237 (73.8)

 

 3–4 units

3020 (26.9)

1754 (32.1)

1266 (22.0)

 

 5 or more units

1091 (9.7)

852 (15.6)

239 (4.2)

< 0.000c

Injuries because of drinking, n (%)

 Never

10,882 (93.5)

4937 (89.4)

5945 (97.2)

 

 Yes

752 (6.5)

583 (10.6)

169 (2.8)

< 0.000c

Overall use of CAM modalities, n (%)

3730 (33.6)

1259 (24.1)

2471 (42.1)

< 0.000c

 Alternative medical pratictionerd

1423 (11.9)

428 (7.6)

995 (15.9)

< 0.000c

 Herbal or ‘natural’ medicinee

2677 (23.0)

937 (17.1)

1740 (28.3)

< 0.000c

 Self-treatmentf

590 (5.0)

107 (1.9)

483 (7.8)

< 0.000c

  1. a Due to missing responses on the individual questions, not all number add up to total number of participants. b Independent sample t-test. c Pearson Chi-square test d Answered yes to: Have you during the past year visited: An alternative medical practitioner (homeopath, acupuncturist, foot zone therapist, herbal medicine practitioner, laying on of hands practitioner, healer, clairvoyant etc.)? e Answered yes to: In the last 12 months have you used herbal or “natural” medicine? f Answered yes to: In the last 12 months have you used meditation, yoga, qi gong or tai-chi as self-treatment?