Complementary and alternative medicine in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: results of a crosssectional study in Slovakia

Abstract

Background and aim: Use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Western Europe is common. Data on the frequency of CAM use among IBD patients in Eastern Europe is lacking. The aim of this study was to examine the proportion of CAM use among IBD-patients from Slovakia and to investigate patients' satisfaction with CAM treatment. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study examined IBD patients from the region of Martin, Slovakia. Measures included socio-demographic and disease- related data, and a questionnaire regarding CAM use. Results: A total of 133 patients were contacted for participation in the study, of these 103 patients accepted. Fifty-three percent was female, median age was 43 years (range 21 to 80) and median disease duration was 5.5 years, (range 1.0 to 28.0). Forty-six patients (45%) had UC and 57 (55%) had CD. A total of 34% (35/103) of the patients had used CAM for IBD related reasons and 76% of the CAM users reported that they had used CAM regularly during the previous 6 months. Herbal products (31%) and homeopathy (28%) were the most frequently reported CAMs. Thirty percent was mostly or very satisfied, 64 % were somewhat satisfied, and 6 % were not at all satisfied. Conclusion: Approximately one third of the IBD patients from Slovakia had used CAM and one third was satisfied with the treatment. Our findings are in accordance with results from similar studies in Europe.