RACIAL/ETHNIC DIFFERENCES AND THE ECONOMIC OF CAM USE

描述（由申请人提供）：拟议研究将采用成熟的经济学理论和主流药物使用的实证研究，估计CAM需求的3个基本经济特性。特别是，我们建议实证研究如何种族和民族群体不同的经济变量在市场上使用全国代表性的数据集。具体目标是：具体目标1：估计CAM就诊需求的价格弹性、CAM与主流医学（MSM）就诊之间的交叉价格弹性以及CAM就诊的收入弹性。具体目标2：确定需求价格弹性、交叉价格弹性（CAM/MSM）和收入弹性方面的种族和民族差异。将使用1996年和1998年的医疗支出专门小组调查。经验模型是根据健康和医疗保健需求的理论经济学模型得出的。CAM就诊需求的价格弹性估计了患者对CAM使用价格的响应程度。CAM和主流医疗就诊之间的交叉价格弹性建立了CAM和MSM的经济替代或互补。收入弹性（IE）调查CAM是劣质商品（IE<0）、必需品（0<IE<1）还是奢侈品（IE>1）。将使用普通最小二乘法作为分析工具。要分析的CAM类型包括脊椎按摩疗法、按摩疗法、草药疗法、精神治疗或祈祷、营养建议、针灸、冥想/意象/放松、顺势疗法、传统医学、生物反馈训练、催眠等。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The proposed study will estimate 3 fundamental economic properties of the demand for CAM, adopting well-established economics theories and empirical studies on mainstream medicine use. In particular, we propose to empirically investigate how racial and ethnic groups respond differently to economic variables in the market using a nationally representative data set. The specific aims are: Specific Aim 1: To estimate the price elasticity of demand for CAM visits, the cross-price elasticity between CAM and mainstream medicine (MSM) visits and the income elasticity (IE) of CAM visits. Specific Aim 2: To establish racial and ethnic differences in the price elasticity of demand, cross-price elasticity (CAM/MSM) and income elasticity. The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey 1996 and 1998 will be used. The empirical model is derived based on a theoretical economics model of demand for health and health care. The price elasticity of demand for CAM visits estimates how responsive patients are to price in CAM use. The cross-price elasticity between CAM and mainstream medicine visits establishes the economic substitution or complementarity of CAM and MSM. The income elasticity (IE) investigates whether CAM is an inferior (IE<0), necessity (0<IE<1) or luxury (IE>1)good. Ordinary least squares will be used as the analytic tools. The types of CAM to be analyzed include chiropractics, massage therapy, herbal remedies, spiritual healings or prayers, nutritional advice, acupuncture, meditation/imagery/relaxation, homeopathy, traditional medicine, biofeedback training, hypnosis and others.