Abstract
BackgroundThe purpose of our study was to determine the prevalence of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) use in patients with chronic diseases in lower Mekong countries.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in a health care setting using a random sample of 4799 adult patients (Mean age: 52.3 years, SD = 22.7) with chronic diseases in Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand. The measure included the International Questionnaire to measure usage of complementary and alternative medicine (I-CAM).ResultsThe 1 year prevalence of consulting TCAM providers was 26.0 %; 27.0 % in Cambodia, 26.3 % in Thailand, 23.9 % in Vietnam. The most commonly consulted TCAM providers were the herbalist (17.3 %), massage therapist (6.0 %), and acupuncturist (5.5 %). For all different types of TCAM providers more than 80 % of participants perceived the consultation as very or somewhat helpful. The own use of herbal medicine was 41.0 %, own use of vitamins 26.5 % and the own use of other supplements 9.7 % in the past 12 months. The most common self-help practices in the past 12 months included praying for your own health (30.1 %), meditation (13.9 %) and relaxation techniques (9.9 %). In multivariate logistic regression analyses, older age, rural residence and having two or more chronic conditions was associated with the use a TCAM provider; being female, urban residence, residing in Vietnam and having two or more chronic conditions was associated with the use of TCAM products; and being female, older age, rural residence, higher formal education, and residing in Cambodia was associated with the use of TCAM self-help practices.ConclusionsTCAM use is common among chronic disease patients in lower Mekong countries and is associated with several sociodemographic and disease specific factors.
Highlights
The purpose of our study was to determine the prevalence of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) use in patients with chronic diseases in lower Mekong countries
Sample characteristics In Cambodia 1602 persons were approached, and all agreed to participate in the study, in Thailand 1614 were
Associations with any TCAM use In multivariate logistic regression analyses, older age, rural residence and having two or more chronic conditions was associated with the use a TCAM provider; being female, urban residence, residing in Vietnam and having two or more chronic conditions was associated with the use of TCAM products; and being female, older age, rural residence, higher formal education, and residing in Cambodia was associated with the use of TCAM self-help practices
Summary
The purpose of our study was to determine the prevalence of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) use in patients with chronic diseases in lower Mekong countries. Large populations in Asian countries utilize traditional medicine [1]. The World Health Organization [2] emphasised the importance of the study on the prevalence and determinants of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) use. Studies on the utilization of TCAM have been focusing on high income countries, with a use of any CAM between 9.8 to 76 % [3]. Many populations in lower Mekong and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are reported to use TCAM to help meet their health care needs, precise data are lacking [2]. There have been reports on overall low utilization of public health facilities (0.6 visits per person per year) in Cambodia, mainly due to under-resourced publicly funded health services, which leaves many people to use the private sector for treatment, private pharmacies [7]
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