Epidemiology Program

The epidemiology program at the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) is currently housed in the NCCIH Office of the Director. This program is responsible for the design, implementation, and analyses of high-quality surveys and longitudinal studies that further understanding of complementary health approaches and chronic pain, as well as factors that contribute to resilience, well-being, and health restoration. To achieve these goals, the epidemiology staff uses both quantitative and qualitative epidemiologic research methods to explore various topics, such as the prevalence, costs, and reasons for use of complementary health approaches, and disparities in disabling pain and its management within various subpopulations. Qualitative studies collect information from interviews and focus groups to develop valid questionnaires that explore systems, practices, and products generally not included in conventional medicine. These studies also serve as valuable additions to experimental and observational research examining the effects of chronic pain on a person’s life. The epidemiology program at NCCIH has collaborated on projects with Institutes, Centers, and Offices across the National Institutes of Health exploring the predictors and effects of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and the long-term effects of COVID-19.

Program Director: Richard L. Nahin, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Email: nahinr@nih.gov

Mailing Address:

Epidemiology Program
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
6707 Democracy Blvd., Suite 401
Bethesda, MD 20892-5475

Contact Epidemiology Program Staff:

Termeh M. Feinberg, Ph.D., M.P.H., epidemiologist
Remle Scott, M.P.H., research scientist

Publications

Scott R, Nahin RL, Weber W. Longitudinal analysis of complementary health approaches in adults aged 25–74 years from the Midlife in the U.S. survey sample. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. April 20, 2021. [Epub ahead of print].
Nahin RL. Pain prevalence, chronicity and impact within subpopulations based on both Hispanic ancestry and race: United States, 2010–2017. The Journal of Pain. February 23, 2021. [Epub ahead of print].
Nahin RL, DeKosky ST. Comorbid pain and cognitive impairment in a nationally representative adult population: prevalence and associations with health status, health care utilization, and satisfaction with care. The Clinical Journal of Pain. 2020;36(10):725-739.
Stussman B, Williams A, Snow J, Gavin A, Scott R, et al. Characterization of post-exertional malaise in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Frontiers in Neurology. 2020;11:1025.
Feldman DE, Carlesso LC, Nahin RL. Management of patients with a musculoskeletal pain condition that is likely chronic: results from a national cross sectional survey. The Journal of Pain. 2020;21(7-8):869-880.
Stussman BJ, Nahin RR, Barnes PM, et al. U.S. physician recommendations to their patients about the use of complementary health approaches. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2020;26(1):25-33.
Nahin RL, Sayer B, Stussman BJ, et al. Eighteen-year trends in the prevalence of, and health care use for, noncancer pain in the United States: data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. The Journal of Pain. 2019;20(7):796-809.
Black LI, Barnes PM, Clarke TC, Stussman BJ, Nahin RL. Use of yoga, meditation, and chiropractors among U.S. children aged 4–17 years. NCHS Data Brief. 2018;(324):1-8.
Clarke TC, Barnes PM, Black LI, Stussman BJ, Nahin RL. Use of yoga, meditation, and chiropractors among U.S. adults aged 18 and over. NCHS Data Brief. 2018;(325):1-8.
Stussman BJ, Nahin RL, Čeko M. Fibromyalgia patients and healthy volunteers express difficulties and variability in rating experimental pain: a qualitative study. Scandinavian Journal of Pain. 2018;18(4):657-666.

See More

Dahlhamer J, Lucas J, Zelaya C, Nahin R, et al. Prevalence of chronic pain and high-impact chronic pain among adults—United States, 2016. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2018;67(36):1001-1006.
Nahin RL. Prevalence and pharmaceutical treatment of plantar fasciitis in United States adults. The Journal of Pain. 2018;19(8):885-896.
Burke A, Lam CN, Stussman B, et al. Prevalence and patterns of use of mantra, mindfulness and spiritual meditation among adults in the United States. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2017;17(1):316.
Nahin RL. Severe pain in veterans: the effect of age and sex, and comparisons with the general population. The Journal of Pain. 2017;18(3):247-254.
Clarke TC, Nahin RL, Barnes PM, Stussman BJ. Use of complementary health approaches for musculoskeletal pain disorders among adults: United States, 2012. National Health Statistics Reports. 2016;(98):1-12.
Nahin RL, Boineau R, Khalsa PS, Stussman BJ, Weber WJ. Evidence-based evaluation of complementary health approaches for pain management in the United States. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2016;91(9):1292-1306.
Nahin RL, Barnes PM, Stussman BJ. Expenditures on complementary health approaches: United States, 2012. National Health Statistics Reports. 2016;(95):1-11.
Nahin RL. Categorizing the severity of pain using questions from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey. Journal of Pain Research. 2016;9:105-113.
Nahin RL, Barnes PM, Stussman BJ. Insurance coverage for complementary health approaches among adult users: United States, 2002 and 2012. NCHS Data Brief. 2016;(235):1-8.
Stussman BJ, Black LI, Barnes PM, Clarke TC, Nahin RL. Wellness-related use of common complementary health approaches among adults: United States, 2012. National Health Statistics Reports. 2015;(85):1-12.
Walitt B, Nahin RL, Katz RS, et al. The prevalence and characteristics of fibromyalgia in the 2012 National Health Interview Survey. PLoS One. 2015;10(9):e0138024.
Nahin RL, Stussman BJ, Herman PM. Out-of-pocket expenditures on complementary health approaches associated with painful health conditions in a nationally representative adult sample. The Journal of Pain. 2015;16(11):1147-1162.
Burke A, Nahin RL, Stussman BJ. Limited health knowledge as a reason for non-use of four common complementary health practices. PLoS One. 2015;10(6):e0129336.
Nahin RL. Estimates of pain prevalence and severity in adults: United States, 2012. The Journal of Pain. 2015;16(8):769-780.
Clarke TC, Black LI, Stussman BJ, Barnes PM, Nahin RL. Trends in the use of complementary health approaches among adults: United States, 2002–2012. National Health Statistics Reports. 2015;(79):1-16.
Black LI, Clarke TC, Barnes PM, Stussman BJ, Nahin RL. Use of complementary health approaches among children aged 4-17 years in the United States: National Health Interview Survey, 2007-2012. National Health Statistics Reports. 2015;(78):1-19.
Mark DB, Anstrom KJ, Clapp-Channing NE, Knight JD, Boineau R, Goertz C, Rozema TC, Liu DM, Nahin RL, et al. Quality-of-life outcomes with a disodium EDTA chelation regimen for coronary disease: results from the Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy randomized trial. Circulation. Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. 2014;7(4):508-516.
Peregoy JA, Clarke TC, Jones LI, Stussman BJ, Nahin RL. Regional variation in use of complementary health approaches by U.S. adults. NCHS Data Brief. 2014;(146):1-8.
Stussman BJ, Bethell CD, Gray C, Nahin RL. Development of the adult and child complementary medicine questionnaires fielded on the National Health Interview Survey. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2013;13:328.
Dwyer J, Nahin RL, Rogers GT, et al. Prevalence and predictors of children’s dietary supplement use: the 2007 National Health Interview Survey. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2013;97(6):1331-1337.
Nahin RL, Byrd-Clark D, Stussman BJ, et al. Disease severity is associated with the use of complementary medicine to treat or manage type-2 diabetes: data from the 2002 and 2007 National Health Interview Survey. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2012;12:193.
Nahin RL, Dahlhamer JM, Stussman BJ. Health need and the use of alternative medicine among adults who do not use conventional medicine. BMC Health Services Research. 2010;10:220.
Willson S, Stussman B, Maitland A, Nahin RL. Role of self-concept in answering survey questions on complementary and alternative medicine: challenges to and strategies for improving data quality. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2009;15(12):1319-1325.
Nahin RL, Barnes PM, Stussman BJ, et al. Costs of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and frequency of visits to CAM practitioners: United States, 2007. National Health Statistics Reports. 2009;(18):1-14.
Nahin RL, Pecha M, Welmerink DB, et al. Concomitant use of prescription drugs and dietary supplements in ambulatory elderly people. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 2009;57(7):1197-1205.
Barnes PM, Bloom B, Nahin RL. Complementary and alternative medicine use among adults and children: United States, 2007. National Health Statistics Reports. 2008;(12):1-23.
Nahin RL, Dahlhamer JM, Taylor BL, Barnes PM, Stussman BJ, et al. Health behaviors and risk factors in those who use complementary and alternative medicine. BMC Public Health. 2007;7:217.
Nahin RL, Fitzpatrick AL, Williamson JD, et al. Use of herbal medicine and other dietary supplements in community-dwelling older people: baseline data from the Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory study. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 2006;54(11):1725-1735.
Pearson NJ, Johnson LL, Nahin RL. Insomnia, trouble sleeping, and complementary and alternative medicine: analysis of the 2002 National Health Interview Survey data. Archives of Internal Medicine. 2006;166(16):1775-1782.