Purpose: This study aims to test if the age of pregnant women affects the perception, experience, and attitude towards complementary alternative therapy (CAT), by investigating the perception, experience, and attitude of pregnant women under the age o...
Purpose: This study aims to test if the age of pregnant women affects the perception, experience, and attitude towards complementary alternative therapy (CAT), by investigating the perception, experience, and attitude of pregnant women under the age of 35, and above 35 (Advanced Maternal Age). The study will 1) find the general characteristics of pregnant women under and over the age of 35 2) compare the perception, behavior, and experience of pregnant women under and over the age of 35, and 3) find the comparison of the perception, behavior, and experience according to the general characteristics of pregnant women under and over the age of 35. Method: The subjects of this study are composed of 44 women under the age of 35 and 44 women above the age of 35, totaling 88 pregnant women visiting midwiferies, obstetrics and gynecology, and baby fairs in Seoul and Gyeong-Gi area. Data for this study was collected from November 28, 2015 to January 6, 2016 for 40 days. The collected data analyzed mean, standard deviation, t test, ANOVA, and chi-square by using SPSS 23.0. Result Results show that there is a significant difference in the perception, attitude, and experience of the two-sample groups in the use of CAT. The question of “what is most necessary when applying CAT in a hospital clinical environment” for the perception criteria came out with the results of t=9.980, p<.05. For the attitude, results showed that the answers of pregnant women under the age of 35 displayed a more positive attitude towards CAT. (t=2.421, p<.05) Lastly, in the experience section, pregnant women under the age of 35 showed more CAT use than the other sample group. Conclusion Results have shown that there is a difference in the perception, behavior, and experience between the two sample groups. Therefore further research on the efficacy and the adverse effects of CAT needs to be done.