Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Students Learn About Natural Health Products from Different Sources

Natural health products (NHP) include botanical and naturally derived non-botanical products. Recent surveys indicate a high prevalence of NHP use among adults in U.S. and Canada (12-15%).  Prior studies show the use prevalence, user characteristics, and reasons for use among adults.  However, prior studies do not clearly characterize NHP use among students, ethnic variations of use, or describe how users learn about NHP.  We hypothesized that there will be a difference between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students in how they learn about NHP.  This cross-sectional study was conducted at First Nations University of Canada, and University of Regina, during Fall 2011 (Total n= 963; White (n=587), Aboriginal (n=212), other ethnicities (n=146)).  A Chi-Square test was used to determine knowledge source differences among ethnic groups, using SPSS statistical software.  We found that only Aboriginal and White students showed a statistically significant relationship with elders as a source of information about NHP, χ² (8) = 174.36, p = .000, as well as a significant relationship with print media as compared to other ethnicities, χ²(8) = 15.88, p =.044.  Only Aboriginal students showed a significant relationship with electronic media as a source of information about NHP, χ2 (8) = 30.19, p = .000. Thus, Aboriginal students use three sources of information to learn about NHP: Elders, electronic media, and print media.  In particular, Aboriginals use electronic media to learn about NHP.  Future work should investigate the use of Elders to convey NHP information directed to Aboriginal students, through electronic media and print media.