Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Questionnaire
Also known as: I-CAM-Q, Integrative CAM Questionnaire
The I-CAM-Q is a structured questionnaire designed to systematically assess the use of complementary and alternative medicine practices and practitioners. Developed by Quandt and colleagues in 2009, it provides comprehensive data on CAM utilization patterns, frequency, purposes, and perceived helpfulness across diverse populations.
Key highlights
- Comprehensive operationalization of CAM across 11 practice categories and 7 practitioner types captures heterogeneity of the CAM landscape.
- Multi-dimensional assessment (prevalence, frequency, reason, helpfulness) provides richer data than simple yes/no CAM use items.
- Suitable for cross-cultural and multilingual populations; has been used successfully with immigrant and diverse communities.
- Low respondent burden (10–15 minutes) facilitates use in large surveys and routine health assessments.
Intuition
This section is available to Pro members. Upgrade to Pro
How it works
This section is available to Pro members. Upgrade to Pro
When to use it
The I-CAM-Q is appropriate for population-based surveys, clinical epidemiology, and cross-cultural health services research examining CAM integration. It is particularly valuable in diverse or immigrant populations where CAM use may be especially prevalent. Use it to document utilization patterns, identify barriers or drivers of CAM adoption, and inform integrative medicine implementation.
Strengths & limitations
- Comprehensive operationalization of CAM across 11 practice categories and 7 practitioner types captures heterogeneity of the CAM landscape.
- Multi-dimensional assessment (prevalence, frequency, reason, helpfulness) provides richer data than simple yes/no CAM use items.
- Suitable for cross-cultural and multilingual populations; has been used successfully with immigrant and diverse communities.
- Low respondent burden (10–15 minutes) facilitates use in large surveys and routine health assessments.
- Recall bias: 12-month retrospective reporting may underestimate or misclassify infrequent or occasional use.
- Helpfulness is perceived, not clinically measured; susceptible to social desirability and placebo expectancy.
- No clinical outcomes data; does not assess safety, drug–supplement interactions, or clinical efficacy of specific modalities.
- Relies on participant knowledge of CAM terminology; some respondents may confuse modalities or be unaware of what they received.
Common pitfalls
This section is available to Pro members. Upgrade to Pro
Applications
This section is available to Pro members. Upgrade to Pro
Frequently asked
Does the I-CAM-Q measure only herbal and traditional medicine, or does it include mind-body practices?
It covers both: the 11 categories include acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage, meditation, prayer, and spiritual healing, as well as chiropractic, energy healing, and others. The scope is comprehensive across CAM modalities.
Can the I-CAM-Q be used in longitudinal studies to track changes in CAM use over time?
Yes. Its structured format allows repeated administration at multiple timepoints. However, use identical recall periods (e.g., 'past 12 months') across waves to maintain comparability.
Is the I-CAM-Q available in multiple languages?
The original 2009 publication tested it in English and Spanish. Translations into other languages are available in subsequent publications; verify translation quality and cultural equivalence before use.
How should helpfulness be interpreted if a patient reports CAM use but rates helpfulness as low?
Low helpfulness despite use may indicate the patient continued seeking CAM despite limited perceived benefit, or may reflect unmet expectations. This can signal dissatisfaction and is relevant to retention and adherence discussions.
Sources
- 1.Quandt, S. A., Ip, E. H., & Saldana, M. (2009). Integrative medicine use among immigrant Latino farm workers. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 11(6), 498–506.
- 2.Eisenberg, D. M., Davis, R. B., Ettner, S. L., et al. (1998). Trends in alternative medicine use in the United States, 1990–1997. JAMA, 280(18), 1569–1575.
You have read it. What now?
Cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 3). CAM Use Questionnaire. ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/integrative-medicine/cam-use-questionnaire