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FOKYR
Saw provider for folk medicine, past 12 months
Group: Folk Medicine - General — PERSON

Description

For sample adults in 2002 who had ever seen a practitioner for folk medicine (FOKEV), FOKYR reports whether the person had seen a practitioner for folk medicine in the past 12 months.

Folk medicine was one of many alternative health treatment modalities included in the 2002 and 2007 Alternative Health Supplements. Although the 2002 Supplement asked about the use of a generic "practitioner for folk medicine," the 2007 Supplement asked about the use of particular kinds of traditional healers, including Botanicas, Curanderos Espiritistas, Native American Medicine Men, Shamans, Sobadors, and Hierberos or Yerberas. For the full list of alternative health treatments covered in the NHIS, and for general background information about the Alternative Health Supplements, see ACUYR.

In addition, both sample children (2007 only) and sample adults (both 2002 and 2007) who had used any of the eight forms of folk medicine in the past 12 months were asked whether the folk medicine was used to treat a specific medical condition and, if so, what that condition was.

Definitions 

The 2002 Field Representative's Manual says that "folk medicine (such as, Curanderismo, ... Native American healing)":

refers to systems of healing that have persisted since the beginning of culture and flourished long before the development of conventional or allopathic medicine. Folk healers usually participate in a training regimen of observation and imitation, with healing often considered a gift passed down through several generations of a family. Folk healers may employ a range of remedies including prayer, healing touch or laying on of hands, charms, herbal teas or tinctures, magic rituals, and others. Folk healers are found in all cultures and operate under a variety of names and labels.

This definition was not routinely shared with respondents.

The 2002 survey question asked whether the person had seen "a practitioner" for folk medicine in the past 12 months. The 2007 Manual defines an "alternative provider or practitioner" as:

someone who is knowledgeable about a specific alternative health practice. This person provides care or gives advice about its use, and usually receives payment for his or her services.

Related Variables

In 2002, if sample adults gave a positive response to FOKYR (or, in 2007, to the comparable variables FOKBOTANYR, FOKCURANYR, FOKESPIRYR, FOKNAMYR, FOKSHAMYR, FOKSOBADYR, or FOKYERBYR, which cover use of specific types of folk medicine in the past 12 months), they were asked a series of follow-up questions. These questions, which are described in more detail below, addressed the following topics: times saw practitioner for folk medicine; the out-of-pocket cost of the treatment; whether folk medicine costs were covered by insurance; any conventional medical treatments received and the timing of the conventional treatment relative to the folk medicine treatment; the reasons for using folk medicine; and the disclosure of the use of folk medicine to conventional medical professionals.

 

As noted, sample adults who had used folk medicine in the past 12 months (i.e., those with a positive response in 2002 to FOKYR, or in 2007 to FOKBOTAN, FOKCURANYR, FOKESPIRYR, FOKNAMYR, FOKSHAMYR, FOKSOBADYR, or FOKYERBYR) were asked further questions about their use of folk medicine, as follows:

  • number of traditional healers used (FOKTYPNO)
  • importance of use of folk medicine (FOKIMPORT)
  • times saw practitioner for folk medicine (FOKNO)
  • amount paid per visit for folk medicine (FOKPAID)
  • whether folk medicine costs covered by insurance (FOKINSURE)

Both sample adults (both 2002 and 2007) and sample children (2007 only) who had used any of the specified forms of folk medicine (generic "practitioner", Botanica, Curandero, Espiritista, Native American Medicine Man, Shaman, Sobador, or Hierbero/Yerbera) in the past year were asked if they had done so to treat a specific health problem or condition (see FOKTREAT). If the answer was affirmative, they were asked to specify the condition treated.

There are 131 total variables for specific conditions that were treated by folk medicine, including 72 for sample adults, 28 for sample children, and 31 for both sample adults and sample children. See FOKTREAT for more detail and the full list of conditions that persons could indicate were treated with folk medicine. Analysts interested in the conditions that folk medicine was used to treat may also wish to consult the following variables:

  • condition for which folk medicine was used most (FOKTCONMOST)

  • first condition for which folk medicine was used (FOKCON1)
  • degree of help from folk medicine, 1st condition (FOKCON1HELP)
  • second condition for which folk medicine was used (FOKCON2)
  • degree of help from folk medicine, 2nd condition (FOKCON2HELP)
  • third condition for which folk medicine was used (FOKCON3)
  • degree of help from folk medicine, 3rd condition (FOKCON3HELP)
  • condition count for folk medicine (FOKCONNO)

Comparability

FOKYR is only available for 2002.

Universe

  • 2002: Sample adults age 18+ who have ever seen a practitioner for folk medicine.

Codes and Frequencies



Availability

  • 2002
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Weights

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