Care-seeking, use of CAM, and self-management among people with Type 2 Diabetes and

慢性病和相关的健康问题在澳大利亚日益普遍。最近的估计表明，2型糖尿病和心脏病每年给澳大利亚社区造成近90亿澳元的直接成本。然而，慢性病患者遵循医疗和行为处方，同时也使用补充和替代疗法、医生、维生素和草药。我们将探讨被诊断为和正在接受治疗的两种最常见的慢性疾病-心血管疾病和糖尿病-的患者向CAM从业者和治疗者介绍和使用CAM的原因，以建立与坚持其处方治疗的关系。重点是什么被描述为“驱动程序，成本和效益”的CAM的使用，以及如何CAM和传统的医疗保健方法的实际互动可能会支持遵守。这项研究计划将对控制这些疾病和个人健康产生非常重要的影响。使用创新的跨学科方法和研究方法的组合，研究将提供一个独特的循证基础上的社区方法和使用的补充和替代医学，这对当前和未来的健康需求的意义。该计划将以新颖的方式利用跨学科技能，探索迄今为止受到有限关注的健康和社会领域。通过包括两个博士学位，我们将加强澳大利亚在健康社会科学和公共卫生在这一领域的研究能力，在这个国家产生重要的人口健康实践和政策的新技能。

Chronic disease and related health problems are increasing in prevalence in Australia. Recent estimates suggest that Type 2 diabetes and heart disease cost the Australian community almost $9 billion in direct costs per annum. People with chronic conditions follow medical and behavioural prescriptions variably, however, while also using complementary and alternative (CAM) therapies, practitioners, vitamins and herbs. We will explore the reasons for presentation to and use of CAM practitioners and therapies by people diagnosed with and under treatment for two of the most commonly diagnosed chronic conditions - cardiovascular disease and diabetes - in order to establish the relationship with adherence to their prescribed treatment. The focus is on what is described as the “drivers, costs and benefits” of the use of CAM, and how the practical interaction of CAM and conventional health care approaches may support adherence. This research program will have very important implications for the control of these diseases and individual wellbeing. Using an innovative interdisciplinary approach and a mix of research methods, the research will provide a unique evidencebase on community approaches to and use of complementary and alternative medicine, and the significance of this to current and future health needs. The program will take advantage of the interdisciplinary skills in novel ways to explore areas of health and society that have so far received limited attention. By including two PhDs, we will strengthen Australia’s research capacity in health social sciences and public health in this field, generating new skills important to population health practice and policy in this country.