Use Of Complementary Medicine Research Articles

Acupuncture for insomnia: a scoping review of clinical studies

The use of complementary medicine in the treatment of sleep disorders has been increasing and the insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders in modern society. The aim of this scoping review was to map the literature on the use of acupuncture for insomnia treatment. This scope review was prepared according to the 5 steps of the methodology proposed by Arksey and O'Malley (2015) and was registered in the Open Science Framework. The following databases were searched: PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Library. Studies that evaluated the use of acupuncture in insomnia treatment, published in peer-reviewed journals, were included. The bibliographic survey was carried out between November and December 2023 and 21 studies were selected for inclusion in the analysis. The review demonstrated that acupuncture is a safe and effective alternative for treating insomnia, with fewer side effects compared to pharmaceutical methods.

A preliminary, quantitative study on the use of traditional and complementary medicine by cancer patients seen at the Senkatana oncology clinic, Maseru, Lesotho

BackgroundThe use of traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) by cancer patients remains common in several countries especially in the Sub-Saharan Africa. However, the reasons for use are complex and change with time and geographic location, they may vary from therapy to therapy, and they are different from one individual to another. The use of TCM has been associated with active coping behaviour and a way through which patients take control of their own health. However, cancer patients do not disclose their use of TCM to the attending healthcare professionals and therefore the effects of these medicines on the patients may not be ascertained.AimTo investigate the use of traditional and complementary medicines among patients diagnosed with cancer.MethodsA cross-sectional, quantitative study was conducted at Senkatana Oncology clinic in May to June 2023. Cancer patients underwent standardized, quantitative interviews using structured questionnaires about their use of TCM. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. Logistic regression analysis was also used to identify factors associated with satisfaction with the performance of TCM.ResultsAll interviewed patients (n = 50, 100%) reported to be using TCM. Patients consisted of 24 females (48%) and 26 males (52%) in the age range 14 to 82 years old. The majority of the study population was in the age group 35–44 years old. The most prevalent cancer among participating males was prostate cancer and among females was cervical cancer. Biological products use was the most prominent with the highest average percentage usage (14.7%). The majority of patients (66%, n = 33) indicated that they just wanted to try everything that could help. Patients (n = 47, 94%) further reported that they had been using complementary medicine during the same period as they were using conventional treatment so that both may work to help each other. Neither gender nor age predicted satisfaction with the performance of traditional and complementary medicine.ConclusionsIt is concluded that all interviewed cancer patients use TCM. Patients indicated that one of the reasons for using TCM was that they wanted to try everything that could help in their cancer care. Patients further reported that they did not inform their oncologist of their concurrent use of TCM because they had been advised not to use other medicines besides what they are given at the clinic.

The relationship between medication adherence and complementary medicine use in epilepsy patients

ObjectiveThe aim of this research is to examine the usage of Complementary and Integrated Medicine (CIM) in individuals with epilepsy and the impact of CIM usage on medication adherence. Materials and methodsThis descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted in a university hospital in northern Turkey between July and October 2023, involving 101 individuals with epilepsy (PWE). Descriptive information forms and the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-4 (MMS-4) were used as data collection tools. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, and post-hoc LSD analyses were employed for data evaluation. ResultsThe participants consisted of 65.3 % males, 25.7 % were not working due to epilepsy, and 61.4 % with generalized epilepsy. The average MMS-4 score was found to be 3.08 ± 0.96. MMS-4 scores showed significant differences based on epilepsy type (F = 3.998, p = 0.021; η2 = 0.07). 76.2 % (n = 21) of the participants who used at least one CIM technique preferred “having a religious person read a prayer.” ConclusionMedication adherence in PWE was at a moderate level. Individuals with focal and secondary generalized epilepsy showed better medication adherence compared to those with generalized types. Of those participant who used at least one CIM technique to improve their general health or control seizures, the most common was “having a religious person read a prayer.”

Chronic pain and the use of complementary and alternative medicine in rural Victoria, Australia.

The relationship between chronic pain and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is poorly understood, and the situation in rural Australia is particularly unclear. The objective here was to determine the socio-demographic factors associated with the use of CAM for the treatment of chronic pain in a region of rural Australia. This secondary analysis used data from a population health survey, Crossroads-II, to assess the relationships of various socio-demographic factors with the use of CAM by those suffering from chronic pain. Face-to-face surveys at households randomly selected from residential address lists. A large regional centre and three nearby rural towns in northern Victoria, Australia. Sixteen years of age and older. Use of a CAM service to treat chronic pain. Being female (2.40 [1.47, 3.93], p < 0.001) and having a bachelor's degree (OR 2.24 [1.20, 4.20], p < 0.001) had a significant positive relationship with the use of CAM overall to redress chronic pain and those 50 years and older had greater odds of using manipulation therapies relative to those below 50 years (50-64: OR 0.52 [0.32, 0.86], p = 0.010; 65+: 0.37 [0.18, 0.75], p = 0.005). In the studied region, females and those with university education have the greatest odds of using CAM to treat chronic pain. This study needs to be complemented with more mechanistic investigations into the reasons people make the decisions they make about using CAM for the management of chronic pain.

Health needs, treatment decisions and experience of traditional complementary and integrative medicine use by women with diminished ovarian reserve: Across-sectional survey.

Women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) have fewer eggs than would be expected at their age. It is estimated that 10% of women seeking fertility treatment are diagnosed with DOR. However, the success rate of medically assisted reproduction (MAR) is significantly lower in women with DOR, thus many seek additional approaches. To explore the health needs of women with DOR, treatment options and experience of treatment including traditional complementary integrative medicine (TCIM). Anyone with a diagnosis of DOR, living in Australia or New Zealand, aged over 18 were invited to complete an online survey distributed via fertility support networks and social media platforms from April to December 2021. Data from 67 respondents were included. The main aspects of health that were impacted by DOR were fertility (91.0%) and mental health (52.2%). The main treatment recommended was MAR with most women either currently using MAR (38.8%) or having previously used MAR (37.3%). TCIM was widely used with 88.1% of women utilising supplements, 74.6% consulting with TCIM practitioners, and 65.7% adopting self-care practices. The main reasons for using TCIM were to improve fertility or support pregnancy, and to support general health and well-being. Women with DOR have additional health needs apart from infertility, most notably mental health support. The main form of treatment utilised is MAR, despite DOR being challenging for fertility clinicians. TCIM was widely used, and respondents perceived benefits related to improving fertility, supporting pregnancy, or improving well-being through use of acupuncture, meditation, naturopathy, massage, yoga.

Alternative Therapies for Eye Inflammation: Patient Preferences and Patterns

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and patterns of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among patients with inflammatory eye disease.&#x0D; &#x0D; Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted over three months through direct interviews with 150 consecutive patients at a tertiary care clinic specializing in inflammatory eye diseases. Sociodemographic data and clinical characteristics were extracted from clinical records for analysis. Descriptive and comparative analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics software.&#x0D; &#x0D; Results: In this cohort, 110 of the 150 patients (73.3%) reported employing complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) strategies to mitigate their ocular conditions. The CAM interventions included vitamin supplementation (n=53, 35%), herbal remedies (n=41, 27%), acupuncture (n=23, 15%), and leech therapy (n=11, 7%)—notably, a significant portion—roughly one in three patients—engaged in multiple CAM therapies.&#x0D; Statistical analysis revealed a robust association between CAM applications and several demographic and clinical variables. Females were more likely to use CAM (p=0.04), as were individuals with higher occupational standing (p=0.03) and income levels (p=0.03). Furthermore, patients diagnosed with uveitis exhibited a higher propensity for CAM usage than those with other inflammatory eye diseases (p=0.03). Patients diagnosed with any inflammatory eye disease (≥ 5 years) exhibited a higher propensity for CAM use (0

Preventive health behaviour differences across racial groups during the early stages of COVID-19

Background Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the practice of preventative health behaviours had been used disparately across different racial groups. This study seeks to identify any differences in preventative health behaviours across racial groups, controlling for other socio-demographic factors. Methods A US national survey study was electronically conducted from July through November 2020, to measure racial/ethnic differences in health preventive behaviours about COVID-19. We performed 2-part regression models to assess whether preventive health behaviours differed by race and ethnicity. Specifically, we employed generalized logistic regressions for investigating the predictors of the use of complementary or alternative medicine (CAM), or stay-at-home strategy, then performed ordinal logistic regression to examine the predictors of social distancing, face mask wearing, and hand hygiene strategy practice. Results The results show that non-White respondents were more likely to practice social distancing, mask wearing, and hand hygiene strategy to prevent COVID-19, compared to their White counterparts. Additionally, the findings indicate that individuals who experienced COVID-19-related racial abuse or depression had a higher likelihood of practicing preventive health behaviours. Discussion We found ethnicity can be a predictor of health preventive behaviours, in accordance with previous research. The causes of these disparities will require further investigation in order to be addressed.

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Patients with Rare Bone Diseases and Osteoporosis.

(1) Background: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has seen a notable increase in popularity. However, there is an absence of data regarding the prevalence of CAM use in patients with rare bone diseases (RBDs). (2) Methods: This monocentric, cross-sectional study was carried out in a reference hospital for RBDs. RBD patients included individuals with osteogenesis imperfecta, hypophosphatasia and X-linked hypophosphatemia, and their data were compared with those of patients with osteoporosis (OPO) and of healthy controls (CON). This study utilized the German version (I-CAM-G) of the I-CAM questionnaire. (3) Results: This study comprised 50 RBD patients [mean age (SD) of 48.8 (±15.9), 26% male], 51 OPO patients [66.6 (±10.0), 9.8% male] and 52 controls [50.8 (±16.3), 26.9% male]. Treatments by naturopaths/healers were more prevalent in the RBD group (11.4%) compared with OPO (0%) and CON (5.8%) (p = 0.06). More than half of the OPO (60.8%) and CON (63.5%) patients and 46% of the RBD patients reported vitamin/mineral intake within the past 12 months (p = 0.16). Individuals with tertiary education had a significantly higher odds ratio of 2.64 (95% CI: 1.04-6.70, p = 0.04) for visiting any CAM provider. Further, OPO patients were significantly less likely to use self-help techniques compared with the CON group (OR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.19-0.95; p = 0.04). (4) Conclusions: Herbal medicine, vitamin and mineral supplements, and self-help techniques were the most common forms of CAM reported by patients with RBDs. However, the use of CAM was generally low.

Virtual reality and neurofeedback as a supportive approach to managing cancer symptoms for patients receiving treatment: A brief report of a feasibility trial.

Managing cancer symptoms while patients receive systemic treatment remains a challenge in oncology. The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approaches like virtual reality (VR) and neurofeedback (NF) in tandem with systemic treatment might reduce symptom burden for patients. The combination of VR + NF as a CAM intervention approach is novel and understudied, particularly as it relates to supportive cancer care. The purpose of this study is to summarize our VR + NF study protocol and share preliminary results regarding study retention (across 2 treatment sessions) and preliminary impact of VR or VR + NF on patient-reported outcomes such as anxiety and pain. We utilized a parallel arm trial design to compare preliminary impact of VR only and VR + NF on cancer symptoms among patients who are actively receiving cancer treatment. Sixty-seven percent (n = 20) of participants returned to participate in a second VR session, and the rates of return were the same between the VR groups. Patients in the VR + NF group showed improvements in anxiety after both sessions, while patients in the VR only group showed significant improvements in pain and depression after both sessions. Patients in the VR + NF group showed improved pain after session 1. This study demonstrates that patients can be retained over multiple treatment sessions and that VR and NF remain promising treatment approaches with regard to impact on patient-reported outcomes like anxiety and pain.

Prevalence and Factors Associated With Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among Iranian Diabetic Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

IntroductionThis cross-sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among diabetic patients in Fasa, a city in southern Iran. MethodsData were collected from diabetic patients who visited the endocrinology clinics at Fasa University of Medical Science. A structured questionnaire was administered to gather information on CAM use, including the types of CAM modalities used, and reasons for use. The patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics, such as age, gender, duration of diabetes, glycosylated hemoglobin levels, and quality of life were also recorded. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the prevalence of CAM use, while logistic regression analysis was employed to identify factors associated with CAM use. ResultsA total of 376 diabetic patients participated in the study, with more than 89% reporting CAM use within the past year. Herbal preparations were the most commonly used type of CAM, with a prevalence rate of 99.4%. Factors associated with CAM use included patients’ psychological health, attitude towards the safety of CAM, belief in the synergistic effects of combining routine medications with CAM, and previous positive experiences with CAM. ConclusionsThe high prevalence of CAM, highlight the importance of considering it in diabetes management and highlight the need for health care professionals’ engagement in open discussions with patients about their CAM practices. Understanding the factors influencing CAM use can inform health care providers and policymakers in developing appropriate strategies for integrating CAM approaches into conventional diabetes care.

The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Patients with Cervical Cancer Patients at H. Adam Malik Hospital Medan

Background: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in Indonesia. As a culturally rich country, Indonesia has various traditional medicines that are passed through generations to maintain health conditions as local wisdom in the society. A combination of conventional complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is often used by cancer patients. This study aims to describe the use of complementary and alternative medicine among cervical cancer patients in H. Adam Malik Hospital Medan.Method: This is a descriptive observational study with a cross-sectional design. Subjects were patients diagnosed with cervical cancer at Gyneco-Oncology Clinic, H. Adam Malik Hospital, Medan. Fifty patients were interviewed with questions about the type, frequency, source of information, satisfaction rate, and openness to doctors regarding the use of CAM. Data were collected from July - September 2023.Results: The types of CAM used were nutritional therapy (39.3%), mind-body interventions (27.1%), herbs (23.4%), massage (9.3%), and acupuncture (0.9%). Most of the subjects used a combination of 2 types of CAM (74%). Most of the respondents (82%) were satisfied with CAM, and 48% of respondents did not inform doctors regarding the CAM used.Conclusion: All cervical cancer outpatients at H. Adam Malik Hospital used CAM together with conventional cancer therapy. The doctors should actively ask about the CAM that is used by the patients since not all patients disclose the information to their healthcare provider.  

Beyond pillbox: a national cross-sectional study on the attitudes, practices, and knowledge of community pharmacists regarding complementary and alternative medicine

BackgroundWhile community pharmacists are uniquely positioned to promote the safe and effective use of complementary and alternative medicine, their potential role remains largely untapped. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to complementary and alternative medicine products among community pharmacists in the United Arab Emirates and explore the correlates of knowledge in the study sample.MethodsUsing a stratified random sampling frame, a national survey of community pharmacists was conducted in the United Arab Emirates. In a face-to-face interaction, participants completed a multi-component questionnaire consisting of four sections: sociodemographic and general characteristics; knowledge of complementary and alternative medicine products and usage; attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine and practices related to complementary and alternative medicine. Based on participants’ answers, scores were calculated with higher scores indicating more positive knowledge, attitudes, and practices.Results373 community pharmacists participated in the study (response rate: 83%). For the knowledge questions, more than 50% of community pharmacists correctly answered the functions of complementary and alternative medicine, however lower percentages were noted for the side effects and drug interactions questions. Most community pharmacists had positive attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine, except for particular aspects such as efficacy, where 40% agreed that complementary and alternative medicine is only effective in treating minor complaints. As for practices, while more than 70% of participants counseled patients on complementary and alternative medicine use, only 47% reported the toxic effects when encountered. Multiple linear regressions showed that community pharmacists working in independent pharmacies, those with fewer years of experience, and those who did not receive complementary and alternative medicine education during their academic degree had lower knowledge scores (p < 0.05).ConclusionsThe findings of this study showed that community pharmacists in the United Arab Emirates have good knowledge of complementary and alternative medicine functions and generally positive attitudes and practices, with few gaps identified in each. Together, these findings provide critical evidence for the development of targeted interventions to promote the role of community pharmacists towards safe and effective complementary and alternative medicine use in the country.

Relationship between coronavirus anxiety, resilience, and attitudes toward complementary and alternative treatment among patients admitted&lt;br /&gt; to the COVID-19 Outpatient Clinic

&lt;b&gt;Aim&lt;/b&gt;: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the studies showed an increase in complementary and alternative therapy use. This study aimed to determine the relationship between coronavirus anxiety, resilience, and attitudes toward complementary and alternative treatment among patients admitted to the COVID-19 outpatient clinic.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Material and methods&lt;/b&gt;: This is a descriptive and relational study. The sample consisted of 364 patients who applied to the pandemic outpatient clinic of a training and research hospital in Turkey. Data were collected using the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale, Brief Resilience Scale, and Scale for Attitudes toward Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The Mann–Whitney U test, the Kruskal–Wallis test, and the Spearman correlation test were used in data analysis.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Results&lt;/b&gt;: There was a moderate and negative correlation (r = −0.332) between attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine and coronavirus anxiety, and a moderate and positive correlation (r = 0.348) between attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine and resilience (p &amp;lt; 0.01). Additionally, there was a moderate and negative correlation between coronavirus anxiety and resilience (r = −0.667; p &amp;lt; 0.01).&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Conclusion&lt;/b&gt;: In the COVID-19 pandemic process, it is essential to follow up on patients' complementary and alternative medicine use, inform them, and determine their causes.

Use of complementary and alternative medicine by patients treated for systemic lupus erythematosus, primary Sjögren's syndrome or systemic sclerosis in a french rural region.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is composed of a wide range of interventions and frequently used in parallel with conventional medicine. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence, modalities, and association factors of CAM utilization in patients treated for systemic lupus erythematosus, primary Sjögren's syndrome or systemic sclerosis. This was a prospective single-center observational study conducted in a french university hospital center. Inclusion criteria were patients followed for systemic lupus erythematosus, primary Sjögren's syndrome or systemic sclerosis. Data were collected with a survey which assessed socio-demographic, disease characteristics, CAM use details, life quality and anxiety score. A total of 121 patients were included, mostly women (87%), with an average age of 56 years. Proportion of patients seeking CAM was 55%. A total of 186 CAM interventions were recorded: most common was osteopathy, homeopathy and acupuncture. Patients were looking for well-being (22%), reducing their fatigue (18%) and pain (33%). Concerning physical and mental feeling after CAM use, a subjective improvement was reported in 89% of cases. In multivariate analysis, CAM use by patient was associated with these 3 variables : coming from a Western culture, being professionally active, having a poor quality of life and anxiety scores. This is the first study to focus on CAM use in patients followed for three AID in a french rural region. The current challenge is to enrich conventional medicine with CAM that are effective and safe through supervised programs to move towards an integrative medicine.

Views of healthcare professionals on complementary and alternative medicine use by patients with diabetes: a qualitative study

BackgroundRecent estimates indicate that a significant proportion of diabetic patients globally, up to 51%, are utilizing complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). To improve patient-provider communication and optimize prescribed treatments, healthcare professionals (HCPs) must understand the factors associated with CAM use among diabetic patients. There is a dearth of literature on HCPs perspectives on CAM use by diabetic patients. This study explored HCPs knowledge, perspective, and views on their diabetic patients’ use of CAM.MethodsQualitative study using one-to-one semi-structured interviews conducted with 22 HCPs involved in the care of diabetic patients (6 endocrinologists, 4 general practitioners, 4 nurses and 8 pharmacists). Participants were recruited through general practices, community pharmacies and a diabetic centre in Saudi Arabia. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.ResultsFive key themes resulted from the analysis. HCPs generally demonstrated negative perceptions toward CAM, particularly regarding their evidence-based effectiveness and safety. Participants described having limited interactions with diabetic patients regarding CAM use due to HCPs’ lack of knowledge about CAM, limited consultation time and strict consultation protocols. Participants perceived convenience as the reason why patients use CAM. They believed many users lacked patience with prescribed medications to deliver favourable clinical outcomes and resorted to CAM use.ConclusionsHCPs have noted inadequate engagement with diabetic patients regarding CAM due to a lack of knowledge and resources. To ensure the safe use of CAM in diabetes and optimize prescribed treatment outcomes, one must address the communication gap by implementing a flexible consultation protocol and duration. Additionally, culturally sensitive, and evidence-based information should be available to HCPs and diabetic patients.

Vaccine Hesitancy and Public Mistrust during Pandemic Decline: Findings from 2021 and 2023 Cross-Sectional Surveys in Northern Italy.

This study examines vaccine agreements in South Tyrol, Italy, within distinct socio-cultural and linguistic contexts. Using data from the 2021 and 2023 "COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring" extended surveys, we assessed changes in attitudes towards COVID-19 and other vaccinations during the second and final years of the pandemic. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to examine factors such as trust in institutions, language groups, and the use of complementary and alternative medicine. The representativeness of the study is supported by good participation rates, ensuring a comprehensive view of attitudes towards vaccination in the region. The results show a shift in public agreement with the national vaccination plan to 64% by 2023, from a rate of about 73% agreement in 2021 (p < 0.001). A significant decrease in trust in health authorities and a negative correlation with complementary and alternative medicine consultations were observed. The results highlight the complex nature of vaccine hesitancy in diverse regions such as South Tyrol and underline the need for targeted communication strategies and trust-building initiatives to effectively reduce hesitancy. This study provides critical insights for the formulation of public health strategies in diverse sociocultural settings.

Complementary and alternative medicine use among cancer patients in Iran: A systematic review

BackgroundCancer patients frequently turn to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to mitigate the adverse effects of conventional cancer treatments, alleviate stress, manage comorbidities, and address the cancer itself. This systematic review aims to investigate descriptive studies conducted in Iran, focusing on the prevalence and methods of CAM use among cancer patients. MethodsA thorough search of PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Magiran, and the Scientific Information Database (SID) was conducted in both English and Persian from inception to July 2023. Inclusion criteria targeted studies exploring the frequency and patterns of CAM utilization among Iranian patients across diverse cancer types. ResultsA total of 604 articles were found in the preliminary search, and 14 were included in this review. Among the 3,990 participants in the included studies, a weighted average of 51.83% (range 4.6%-100%) had used at least one CAM method. The most commonly used CAM methods were prayer (41.8%), medicinal herbs (30.1%), traditional and folk treatments (27.2%), bloodletting (17.3%), and hydrotherapy (13%). Patients reported using CAM for various reasons, including their beliefs, desire to cure the disease, reduce stress, positive past experiences, and improve physical condition. On average, 39% of patients informed their physicians about their CAM use. ConclusionThe findings underscore the relatively prevalent adoption of CAM by Iranian cancer patients. Given the low rate of disclosure to physicians, there is a compelling need for healthcare system vigilance and monitoring to ensure comprehensive patient care.

The association between complementary and alternative medicine use with breast cancer recurrence in Taif city, Saudi Arabia

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer among women worldwide. Among all types of cancer, 11.7% of cases diagnosed in 2020 were BC. Compare this to Saudi Arabia, where 28.8 out of every 100,000 women were diagnosed with BC. Furthermore, BC patients are more likely than other cancer survivors to use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Study aimed to investigate association between CAM use and BC recurrence rates in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 106 participants recruited from breast surgery clinics. Targeted women were diagnosed with BC and treated at Al Hada armed forces hospital. The data were collected by interviewing the patients using a validated questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of CAM usage among BC patients was 35.8%. The recurrence rate of BC was 26.4%. CAM users accounted for 28.57% of the total, while non-CAM users comprised 71.43%. In addition, 50% of recurrences were distant metastases, and 50% occurred more than two years after diagnosis.  Conclusions: In conclusion, more than one-third of BC patients in this region incorporate CAM into their treatment regimen. Our findings reveal a practical but not statistical significance of a lower recurrence rate of BC among CAM users compared to non-CAM. These results emphasize the importance of healthcare providers engaging in detailed discussions with BC patients regarding CAM usage in conjunction with planned medical and surgical therapies.   

The Use of Traditional and Complementary Medicine Among Patients With Multiple Sclerosis in Morocco

Abstract Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an acquired chronic, autoimmune, and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system. In addition to conventional MS therapy, patients are interested in traditional and complementary medicine (T&amp;CM). Our study aims to describe the use of T&amp;CM in a cohort of Moroccan patients with MS. Methods: A quantitative descriptive study was adopted to study this subject. For data collection, we opted for an anonymous questionnaire for 98 patients with MS. We gathered data via an electronic survey, using multivariable analysis to examine the effect of specific factors on T&amp;CM use. Data collection took place from March to June 2022. Results: The results show that 52% of patients use T&amp;CM. Of those, 29.6% use cupping, 23.5% recite the Holy Quran, 15.3% use phytotherapy, 13.2% use apitherapy, and 10.2% use acupuncture. In addition, 66.3% of the surveyed respondents stated that alternative medicine positively affects their health. Finally, 49.1% of surveyed patients who use alternative medicine are between 30 and 40 years old. The results also show that the rate of T&amp;CM use is higher in patients with progressive MS (OR = 2.540) and patients without financial access to disease-modifying therapy (OR = 2.100). Conclusions: This study invites us to consider societal, cultural, and economic factors when studying the use of T&amp;CM among people with MS. Further research is needed to understand the motivations for using T&amp;CM.

Hubungan Pengetahuan Dengan Perilaku Penderita Hipertensi Terhadap Cara Pengobatan Hipertensi Dengan Terapi Komplementer Di Puskesmas 1 Denpasar Timur

Background: Non-pharmacological management of hypertension through complementary medicine has now been developed in Indonesia. However, the interest of hypertensive patients in complementary medicine is not optimal because there are many factors that influence the behavior of patients in the use of complementary medicine. Methods: This study employed an analytic study design with a cross-sectional approach. This research was conducted at Puskesmas 1 East Denpasar for 1 month. This study involved 101 hypertensive patients using accidental sampling technique. Data collection was carried out using a questionnaire. Data were analyzed univariately and bivariately using SPSS version 20. Results: This study showed that most hypertensive patients had good knowledge of hypertension treatment with complementary therapies (64.4%). A total of 53.5% of hypertensive patients showed adequate behavior in the treatment of hypertension with complementary therapy. Based on the chi square test, it was found that there was a significant relationship between knowledge and behavior of hypertensive patients towards hypertension treatment with complementary therapy (p-value = 0.04). Conclusion: It is recommended for health workers to increase education and promotion about hypertension treatment with complementary therapy, especially for hypertensive patients with poor knowledge.