Use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among emergency department (ED) patients in Sweden

Jenny M Carlsson,Kristofer Bjerså,Madelene Vestin

doi:10.1186/s12906-020-03126-9

Abstract

BackgroundIt has been suggested that the combination of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) with conventional medicine carries a risk of adverse effects. The prevalence of CAM usage among patients in the Swedish emergency department (ED) is unknown. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate CAM use among visiting patients at a Swedish ED.MethodA cross-sectional descriptive study was performed between August and October 2016 at an ED in Sweden. The questionnaire included 16 items regarding CAM use, factors associated with CAM use and patient healthcare communication and was distributed to 1600 patients.ResultsA total of 1029 questionnaires was returned (RR 64.3%). Current CAM use was reported by 7.9%, during the last year by 38.0%, and within lifetime by 72.9%. Factors associated with CAM use were: being a woman, middle-aged, in full-time employment, with secondary education level, higher use of non-prescription drugs and lower use of prescription drugs. Patient healthcare personnel communication about CAM was found to be approximately 5%.ConclusionCAM usage exists among patients visiting Swedish EDs and almost one in ten uses CAM on the same day as the ED visit. CAM usage is associated with demographic factors. However, communication about CAM usage with ED personnel is poor.

Highlights

It has been suggested that the combination of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) with conventional medicine carries a risk of adverse effects
CAM usage exists among patients visiting Swedish emergency department (ED) and almost one in ten uses CAM on the same day as the ED visit
There was no significant difference between sex distribution (p = 0.569), but a significant difference was found in the distribution of medical area (p = 0.020), with a higher number of orthopaedic visits and fewer medicine visits in the study sample compared with the total population

Summary

Introduction

It has been suggested that the combination of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) with conventional medicine carries a risk of adverse effects. The prevalence of CAM usage among patients in the Swedish emergency department (ED) is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate CAM use among visiting patients at a Swedish ED. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a subject that has aroused great interest in general as well as in research during the last few decades [1,2,3]. A coherent definition of CAM is difficult to find due to the great variety of therapies, systems, and explanatory models available. Carlsson et al BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (2020) 20:327 Definitions used in this study are chosen from a Swedish thesis on CAM in surgical care [5] in which the definitions of conventional, complementary, alternative and integrative medicine are adapted to the Swedish healthcare context (see Table 1).

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Discussion

Conclusion