Abstract
BackgroundMost users of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) combine it with conventional medicine. Recent risk assessment studies have shown risks of negative interactions between CAM and conventional medicine, particularly when combining herbal medicine and conventional drug therapies (CDT). Little is known about the way users consider such risks. The present paper aims to gain knowledge about this issue by exploring views on risks of negative interactions when combining herbal medicine and CDT among people with multiple sclerosis (MS).MethodsThis paper draws on a qualitative follow-up study on a survey among members of the Danish MS Society. Semi-structured, in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with a strategic selection from the survey respondents. The study was inspired by a phenomenological approach and emerging themes were extracted from the data through meaning condensation.ResultsFour themes characterized the informants’ views on risks of negative interactions when combining herbal medicine and CDT: 1) ‘naturalness’ in herbal medicine; 2) ‘bodily sensations’ as guidelines; 3) trust in the CAM practitioner; 4) lack of dialogue with medical doctor.ConclusionsGenerally, the combination of herbal medicine and CDT was considered by the informants to be safe. In particular, they emphasized the ‘non-chemical’ nature of herbal medicine and of their own bodily sensations as warrants of safety. A trustful relation to the CAM practitioner furthermore made some of them feel safe in their use of herbal medicine and CDT in combination. The informants’ use of bodily sensations as a non-discursive risk assessment may be a relevant element in understanding these issues.
Highlights
Most users of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) combine it with conventional medicine
The use of CAM and conventional drug therapies (CDT) in combination is known to be highly prevalent within the patient group, little is known about the way people with multiple sclerosis (MS) consider the risks of negative interactions from combining such treatments
From the analyses, four themes emerged in connection to the issue of possible risks of negative interactions between the two types of medicine: 1) the element of ‘naturalness’ in herbal medicine; 2) the use of ‘bodily sensations’ as guidelines; 3) trust in the CAM practitioner and 4) lack of dialogue with medical doctor
Summary
Most users of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) combine it with conventional medicine. Recent risk assessment studies have shown risks of negative interactions between CAM and conventional medicine, when combining herbal medicine and conventional drug therapies (CDT). The present paper aims to gain knowledge about this issue by exploring views on risks of negative interactions when combining herbal medicine and CDT among people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The use of CAM and CDT in combination is known to be highly prevalent within the patient group, little is known about the way people with MS consider the risks of negative interactions from combining such treatments. Medicine within the past twelve months, and who had accepted in the survey to be contacted for an interview This selection process provided us with a group of 13 informants.
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