Use Of Complementary Medicine Research Articles

Use, beliefs, and attitude towards the use of complementary and alternative medicine in a sample among medical students in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasingly recognized globally as a utilized approach and a subject of study. This study aimed to examine the use, beliefs, and attitudes toward the use of CAM in a sample of medical students in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was undertaken in Saudi Arabia with a sample of medical students between December 2020 and August 2021. A previously developed questionnaire was adapted and used in this study. Results: A total of 502 students were involved in this study. Only one-quarter of the study participants (25.3%; n= 127) confirmed that they had previous exposure to CAM courses. The most commonly agreed upon attitude statement was that "they agree that it is necessary to ask every patient about the previous usage of CAM during history-taking" (87.8%). The study participants showed a low positive attitude toward CAM. This was demonstrated through their mean attitude score, which was 3.2 (SD: 1.7) out of 7 (which is equal to 45.7% of the maximum score). Students who were previously exposed to CAM courses were 2.5-fold more likely to have a positive attitude toward CAM compared to others (p

Wellness or medicine? Use and perception of Ayurveda in Germany: data from an online-representative cross-sectional study.

Ayurveda, South Asia's largest and most relevant system of Traditional Medicine, holds a legal status akin to conventional Western medicine in India and elsewhere. There is an almost complete lack of data on the use of Ayurveda in Germany. The aim of this study was to investigate Ayurveda's utilization patterns, entry points, and factors influencing its use and the perception of Ayurveda among the German population. Basis of this manuscript was an online-representative survey which involved 4,065 participants aged 18-75 about the use and acceptance of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) in Germany. The survey was conducted online using Computer Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) in 2022. The dataset was analyzed descriptively and inferentially. Altogether 9.3% (n = 377) of all survey participants (n = 4,065) had already used Ayurveda somehow, either more often (1.7%) or at least once in a lifetime (7.6%). Responders associated Ayurveda primarily with Indian Medicine (27.7%) and wellness (18%). Commonly used Ayurvedic services included non-medical treatments at wellness resorts/spas (48.3%), in outpatient practices (27.1%), and hotels (23.6%). 30.2% of the participants believe in Ayurveda's therapeutic potential. 76.7% of Ayurveda users find healthy nutrition important or very important. Nine predictors were found to classify Ayurveda users vs. non-users with spirituality and belief in Ayurveda's therapeutic efficacy as the most relevant ones. Ayurveda seems to be primarily used by well-educated and female individuals, often from higher-income groups and with a rather modern social milieu-orientation. Study results suggest that about every tenth German citizen has used Ayurveda in the past and about one third believes in its therapeutic potential. Because Ayurvedic therapies are often not evidence-based, there is an urgent need to perform high quality randomized controlled trials to investigate potential effects and safety of Ayurveda and how evidence-based Ayurveda treatments can be integrated into the German healthcare system.

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Patients With Idiopathic Inflammatory Demyelinating Diseases of the Central Nervous System: A Cross-Sectional Study in Thailand

BackgroundComplementary and alternative medications (CAM) are common among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) for physical and psychological support. However, there is insufficient data regarding the application of CAM in the different cultures and beliefs of each community as well as patient's status. ObjectiveTo evaluate the prevalence and modalities of the use of CAM among patients with central nervous system idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating diseases (CNS-IIDD) in a tertiary care hospital MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted at Siriraj Hospital from June to December 2021 involving patients with MS, neuromyelitis optic spectrum disorders (NMOSD), myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD), idiopathic transverse myelitis (iTM), and optic neuritis (ON) to examine the prevalence and mode of CAM use and its correlation with patient characteristics. ResultsThere were 107 patients. The diagnoses were MS (38), NMOSD (55), MOGAD (5), iTM (7), and ON (2). Most of the patients were female (89.7%), and 61.7% were diagnosed over 5 years. The mean Expanded Disability Status Scale was 2.63 (S.D., 2.38), and the median ambulation index was 0 (range 0–8.5). There were 68 patients (63.6%) with a history of CAM use for at least 3 months, while those with current use decreased to 62 (58.5%). Vitamins and minerals were the most commonly used, particularly vitamin D (97.1%) and calcium (47.7%). Both treatments were primarily prescribed (95.3%) rather than self-administered (24.3%). The main reasons for the use of CAM were to strengthen their health (48.6%) and relieve existing symptoms (28.0%). ConclusionsThe use of CAM is common among patients with Thai CNS-IIDD. Further exploration of patient perspectives and preferences regarding CAM usage may contribute to a more comprehensive management approach for patients with CNS-IIDD.

Interdisciplinary Integrative Oncology Group-Based Program: Evaluation of Long-Term Effects on Resilience and Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Patients With Cancer.

Cancer often causes reduced resilience, quality of life (QoL) and poorer overall well-being. To mitigate these problems, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widely used among patients with cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of an interdisciplinary integrative oncology group-based program (IO-GP) on the resilience and use of CAM in patients with cancer. This was a prospective, observational, single-center study. Resilience (RS-13), CAM usage (I-CAM-G), QoL (SF-12) and health-related lifestyle factor (nutrition, smoking, alcohol consumption and physical exercise) data were collected for 70 patients who participated in a 10-week IO-GP between January 2019 and June 2022 due to cancer. The IO-GP is offered at the setting of a university hospital and is open to adult patients with cancer. It contains elements from mind-body medicine and positive psychology, as well as recommendations on healthy diet, exercise and CAM approaches. Patients who completed the IO-GP at least 12 months prior (1-4.5 years ago) were included in this study. Statistical analysis included descriptive analysis and parametric and nonparametric tests to identify significant differences (P < .05). Resilience increased significantly ≥12 months after participation in the IO-GP (n = 44, P = .006, F = 8.274) and had a medium effect size (r = .410). The time since the IO-GP was completed ("12-24 months," "24-36 months," and ">36 months") showed no statistically significant interaction with changes in resilience (P = .226, F = 1.544). The most frequently used CAM modalities within the past 12 months were vitamins/minerals (85.7%), relaxation techniques (54.3%), herbs and plant medicine (41.1%), yoga (41.4%) and meditation (41.4%). The IO-GP was the most common source informing study participants about relaxation techniques (n = 24, 64.9%), meditation (n = 21, 72.4%) and taking vitamin D (n = 16, 40.0%). Significantly greater levels of resilience were found in those practicing meditation (P = .010, d = -.642) or visualization (P = .003, d = -.805) compared to non-practitioners. IO-GPs have the potential to empower patients with cancer to continue using CAM practices-especially from mind-body medicine-even 1 to 4.5 years after completing the program. Additionally, resilience levels increased. These findings provide notable insight into the long-term effects of integrative oncology interventions on resilience and the use of CAM, especially in patients with breast cancer.

Use of Topical Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM) in Diabetic Septic Foot Disease in Makkah Region, Western of Saudi Arabia, an Exploratory Study

Use of Topical Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM) in Diabetic Septic Foot Disease in Makkah Region, Western of Saudi Arabia, an Exploratory Study

Healthcare professionals' perception and practice of complementary and alternative medicine in Qassim region, Saudi Arabia.

Over the last few decades, use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has grown in popularity, changing health professionals' knowledge and attitude toward CAM, and the treatment recommended by them. The aim of the study was to evaluate the perception and practice of CAM among healthcare professionals. A cross-sectional study was conducted among healthcare providers selected by multistage random sampling technique in two governmental hospitals and ten primary healthcare centers in two governorates in the Qassim region, Saudi Arabia. A web-based, self-administered questionnaire was distributed via social media platforms. A total of 350 physicians responded to the survey. Good basic knowledge about CAM was reported by 48.6% of the respondents; a positive attitude was adopted by 53%; and CAM was actively practiced by 9.7%. Being a physician > 40 years and consultant affiliation were significantly associated with higher knowledge level about CAM (p = 0.006 and 0.03, respectively), as well as having a proactive practice (p = 0.007 and 0.04, respectively). Practicing CAM was prevalent among non-Saudi and married physicians (p = 0.02 for both). Knowledge about CAM and its practice were strongly correlated (p = 0.007). The most frequent constraints facing CAM practice were lack of knowledge and training on CAM (81.4%) and lack of studies supporting CAM (74.3%). The practices of health professionals in Qassim region need to be improved despite their expertise and favourable perception of CAM. Educational interventions could play greater roles in providing evidence-based CAM knowledge and enhancing training for physicians.

PREDICTORS OF COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE USE AMONG HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A QUANTITATIVE STUDY

Objective: This research was aimed to investigate the effects of need-based, enabling, and predisposing factors on the use of complementary and alternative medicine that emerged only during the COVID-19 pandemic among healthcare professionals.&#x0D; Method: This study was conducted with a descriptive design. The General Self-Efficacy Scale was used to assess self-efficacy, the Coronavirus Fear Scale was used to assess fear, and the Holistic Complementary and Alternative Medicine Questionnaire was used to assess attitude. In total, 374 healthcare professionals were included. Data were collected according to the complementary and alternative medicine Healthcare Model. In the analysis of the data, mean and standard deviation (SD) are given for quantitative data and percentage is given for categorical data. In addition, multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed.&#x0D; Results: 53.2% of the healthcare professionals reported the use of at least one form of complementary and alternative medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of complementary and alternative medicine showed a relationship between gender, the Coronavirus Fear Scale and the Holistic Complementary and Alternative Medicine Questionnaire scores in predisposing factors. An association between the use of complementary and alternative medicine and the occupation in enabling factors was observed. The use of complementary and alternative medicine was found related to the nature of the workplace in need-based factors. The use of complementary and alternative medicine showed no association with age, marital status, education level, working time, chronic conditions, COVID-19 diagnosis, working status and General Self-Efficacy scores of the healthcare professionals in the COVID-19 clinic.&#x0D; Conclusion: This study concluded that fear associated with COVID-19 and a positive attitude toward complementary and alternative medicine resulted in increased use of complementary and alternative medicine. It was observed that the use of complementary and alternative medicine in health workers working in intensive care, female health workers and nurses was higher than the others.

Determination of Nurses' Attitudes Towards the Use of Traditional and Complementary Medicine in Children: A Comparative Study

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to determine the attitudes of nurses towards the use of T&amp;CM practices in children.&#x0D; Material-Method: This study was designed in a cross-sectional-comparative descriptive design. The study fieldwork was conducted between May and August 2023. Nurses working in a hospital providing secondary health care in eastern Turkey were included in the study. Demographic data of nurses and their attitudes towards holistic complementary and alternative medicine were analysed.&#x0D; Results: It was determined that the mean age of the participants was 33.92 years and 69% of them worked in a state hospital. It was also found that 25.4% of the nurses had used T&amp;CM before, and the most used T&amp;CM method was cupping or leeching with 38.5%. Of those who participated in the study and had previously used T&amp;CM practices, 63.5% reported that they recovered with these practices and 84.6% reported that they recommended the method they used to others. It was determined that 51% of the nurses thought that T&amp;CM practices could be used in children and the most common T&amp;CM method that was thought to be used in children was homeopathy with 50.7%. &#x0D; Conclusion: It was determined that pediatric nurses had a more positive attitude towards T&amp;CM. It was observed that nurses thought that T&amp;CM interventions could be used safely in the treatment of children. Since information about T&amp;CM is obtained from newspapers, magazines, or media programmes, it is thought that integrating T&amp;CM into nursing education curricula may be effective in raising awareness.

The Prevalent Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Among Patients With Chronic Disease in the Al-Madinah Population of Saudi Arabia.

Global interest in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has recently risen, particularly in Saudi Arabia, and the use of CAM is gaining popularity as a healthcare option. This study aims to assess the prevalence of CAM use among patients with chronic diseases and identify the reasons for resorting to CAM in Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Al-Madinah City. Data for analysis were derived from 416 participants with chronic diseases. The data were collected using a valid, structured online questionnaire that was designed to extract socio-demographic data as well as data on the predominant use of herps, hijama (cupping), acupuncture, and other specific CAM applications. The collected data were analyzed using appropriate statistical methods. Of the 416 participants, 164 (39.4%) were men, and 96.9% were Saudi citizens. Approximately one-third of the studied participants had diabetes (34.1%), while 29.3%, 25.2%, 15.1%, and 12.3% had hypertension, obesity, asthma, and gastrointestinal tract disease, respectively. The prevalence of herb and natural supplement use was 89.2%. The most commonly used herbs and natural supplements were ginger (55.5%), honey and its derivatives (53.4%), cinnamon (45.4%), and frankincense (33.4%). Of the studied participants, 36.1% and 6.5% reported undergoing cupping and acupuncture, respectively. No statistically significant differences were found between the use of herbs and acupuncture or any of the studied factors. Further, the use of acupuncture exhibited no significant differences. However, the use of cupping displayed statistically significant differences in age, sex, and income among the participants. The prevalence of CAM use among patients with chronic diseases in Al-Madinah is high. It appears to play an essential role in health care, particularly in treating patients with chronic diseases in this population. Therefore, promoting research in the field of CAM is warranted.

Complementary Therapies and Their Association with Problems in Therapeutic Adherence to Conventional Synthetic DMARDs in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The use of complementary therapies is highly prevalent among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Nevertheless, the use of complementary medicine could involve problems in the following of scientifically accepted treatments. To date, there is limited information regarding the association of nonconventional therapies with problems regarding compliance with the treatment. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify whether the utilization of complementary therapies is associated with a high risk of problems regarding therapeutic adherence to conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (cs-DMARDs) in RA patients. A survey was performed with RA patients in an outpatient rheumatology clinic in a university hospital; the use of complementary therapies, as well as their type, was identified. To assess problems with therapeutic adherence, we used the four-item Morisky-Green scale. A comprehensive assessment of clinical and therapeutic characteristics was performed. Univariable and multivariable models were performed to identify the risk of problems with therapeutic adherence in users of complementary therapies. In total, 250 RA patients were included; 92% used complementary therapies. Of them, the most frequently used were herbal medicine (65%), homeopathy (64%), and cannabis and its derivatives (51%). In the univariable logistic regression analysis, the factors associated with problems in the therapeutic adherence to cs-DMARDs were age (p = 0.019), the presence of other comorbidities (p = 0.047), and the use of complementary therapies (p = 0.042). After controlling for potential confounders, the use of complementary therapies increased the risk of problems with therapeutic adherence to cs-DMARDs (adjusted OR = 2.84, 95% CI = 1.06-7.63, p = 0.037). We concluded that the use of complementary therapies increases the risk of problems with therapeutic adherence. Therefore, for physicians and healthcare professionals, the early identification of the use of nonconventional therapies in their RA patients is required, followed by a directed discussion with their patients about the risks and benefits to which they could be exposed to complementary therapies.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use and Its Determinant Factors in Iranian Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are the most common chronic diseases with a high global burden of disease. Today, the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has become more popular. In general, in developing countries, easy access and low cost of traditional medicine, and in developed countries, more access to health information, the prevalence of old age and the increase in chronic diseases are the reasons for this increasing use of traditional medicine. This study aimed to determine the rate and pattern of CAM used and their relationships with demographic characteristics among asthmatic and COPD patients. This research was a cross-sectional study performed on asthma and COPD patients (n=357) referring to the Pulmonary Diseases affiliated with Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran from 2019 to 2020. Data were collected by using semi-structured questionnaires including open and closed questions and face-to-face interviews. Three hundred and thirty-nine patients (95%) used at least one type of CAM in the last year of study. About half of the patients (49.9%) used more than two types of CAM during the last 12 months. Three hundred and four patients (85.2%) used medicinal plants. Few patients reported with the use of CAM to their physician or health care providers (16.1%, 12.5%, and 16.7% of the users of medicinal plants, bloodletting, and dry cupping respectively). Relatives and friends (77.9%) were with the most common sources of recommendation of CAM to the patients. The present study showed the high prevalence of using different types of CAM, especially herbal medicines in Iranian asthmatic and COPD patients. The main incentive for using CAM was for friends and family members, not health care providers. The use of CAM is associated with age patients age, family size, habitat, education, and occupation.&#x0D;

Use of complementary medicine and its association with SARS-CoV-2 vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal cohort study.

Patients are increasingly using and requesting complementary medicine therapies, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it remains unclear whether they use them in conjunction with conventional medicine or to replace vaccination or other approaches and whether they discuss them with their physicians as part of shared decision-making. This study aimed to evaluate the use and initiation of complementary medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the association between complementary medicine use and COVID-19 vaccination status. This study is a part of the longitudinal cohort of the CoviCare program, which follows all outpatients tested for COVID-19 at the Geneva University Hospitals. Outpatients tested for COVID-19 were contacted 12 months after their positive or negative test between April and December 2021. Participants were asked about their vaccination status and if they had used complementary medicine in the past 12 months. Complementary medicine use was defined based on a specific list of therapies from which participants could choose the options they had used. Logistic regression models adjusting for age, sex, education, profession, severe acute respiratory system coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, and pre-existing conditions were used to evaluate the association between being unvaccinated and complementary medicine use. SARS-CoV-2 infection status was evaluated for effect modification in the association between being unvaccinated and complementary medicine use. This study enrolled 12,246 individuals (participation proportion = 17.7%). Their mean age was 42.8 years, 59.4% were women, and 63.7% used complementary medicine. Complementary medicine use was higher in women, the middle-aged, and those with a higher education level, a SARS-CoV-2 infection, or pre-existing comorbidities. A third of cases initiated complementary medicine therapies as prevention against COVID-19. Being unvaccinated was associated with complementary medicine use (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.22 [1.09-1.37]), and more specifically when these therapies were used for COVID-19 prevention (aOR 1.61 [1.22-2.12]). Being unvaccinated was associated with the use of zinc (aOR 2.25 [1.98-2.55]), vitamin D (aOR 1.45 [1.30-1.62]), and vitamin C (aOR 1.59 [1.42-1.78]), and more specifically when these therapies were used for COVID-19 prevention. Only 4% of participants discussed using complementary medicine with their primary care physicians. While complementary medicine is increasingly used, it is rarely discussed with primary care physicians. Complementary medicine use, especially for COVID-19 prevention, is associated with COVID-19 vaccination status. Communication between physicians, patients, and complementary medicine therapists is encouraged to facilitate a truly holistic approach to making a shared decision based on the best available information.

Prevalence and Determinants of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Use Among Subjects with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) in a Tertiary Institution in South East Nigeria

Background: There is limited data on the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) in Nigeria. This study aims to examine the prevalence, types, and determinants of CAM use among T2DM patients in Southeast Nigeria.&#x0D; Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of 250 diabetic patients who attended the DM clinic in a tertiary institution in South East Nigeria. Each participant completed a questionnaire which had sections on demography, diabetes-related information, and CAM use details. Data collated was analyzed using SPSS version 26.0 for windows.&#x0D; Results: The prevalence of CAM use in this study was 34%. After adjustment; the logistic regression results showed that CAM use was significantly associated with age, and place of residence. The most commonly used type of CAM by participants were bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) (56.5%), followed by bitter cola (Garcinia kola) (47%), scent leaf (African basil) (40%), moringer (20%), utazi (Gongronema latifolium) 17.7%), and aloe vera (7.1%) before the rest. The majority of CAM users were referred to use CAM by friends (68.2%), family members (25.9%), or media (14.1%). Most subjects (75.5%) used CAM concurrently with orthodox medications and only 32.9%% knew the constituents of the CAM they were using. However, gender, marital status, occupation, educational level, income, and DM duration did not significantly associate with CAM use in this study.&#x0D; Key words. Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Diabetes Mellitus&#x0D; Conclusions: The prevalence of CAM use was high among diabetics. Further studies to isolate and purify the constituents responsible for the anti-glycemic activity of each compound may be needed in the future.

Symptom clusters associated with complementary and alternative medicine use by cancer patients: A cross-sectional study.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a commonly used approach among cancer patients, with a reported prevalence of 14.8 to 73.1% depending on multiple factors. Even though a typical patient-reported reason for using CAM is symptom control, no conclusive evidence could be established for specific symptoms being a predictor for CAM use. Symptom clusters are a novel approach for assessing a multidimensional symptom burden, reflecting the impact of diseases on the patient's quality of life and considering the tendency of symptoms to occur in groups. A single-center cross-sectional study on cancer patients during oncological or palliative care was conducted to identify socio-demographical and clinical characteristics, including symptom clusters of CAM users and non-users. Symptom clusters were defined using latent profile analysis, and multivariable analyses were performed to assess significant factors influencing CAM use. Of 171 cancer patients in this study, 63.7% used CAM alongside oncological treatment or palliative care. The most common CAM therapies were biological and physical therapies, including homeopathy (30.3%), supplements (27.4%), herbs (26.6%), massage (24.8%), and acupuncture (22.0%). Four distinct symptom clusters were identified, of which the cluster drowsiness-depression-anxiety was associated with a 3.83-fold increased chance of using CAM compared to low-symptomatic cancer patients. Multivariate analysis did not show any additional significant predictors of socio-demographical factors. Using the concept of symptom clusters revealed a significant predictor for CAM use, suggesting to be a more conclusive method for assessing symptom burden in cancer patients. In addition, understanding why and how cancer patients turn to CAM can enhance the quality of multidisciplinary communication about its use.

Perspective of adults in Saudi Arabia toward complementary and alternative medicine use for autism spectrum disorder: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundAutism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a high-prevalence neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by communicational, social, and behavioral challenges. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a group of practices and products that fall outside the realm of conventional medicine practiced worldwide. Traditional CAM is a health practice that comes from a particular culture, such as the use of Zamzam water and black seeds in Saudi Arabia. CAM comprises widely utilized practices in Saudi Arabia for children of various ages and adults. In many cases, CAM is used to treat ASD. The aim of this study is to investigate the perspectives of adults in Saudi Arabia toward CAM for treating ASD.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted by distributing an online questionnaire to adults in different regions of Saudi Arabia.ResultsA total of 4,311 adults participated in this study; 66.8% were females and 33.2% were male. Half of the participants reported that they knew about ASD (54.7%). More than half of the participants indicated that CAM—including art therapy (69.0%), physical exercise (67.0%), and limiting the use of electronic (55.4%)—could help in ASD management. Around half of the respondents indicated a belief that traditional treatment cannot help in treating ASD (53.9%). Only 20.0% of the respondents thought that ASD could be entirely treated using CAM therapies. The most common source of knowledge about CAM was social media and the internet (58.6%).ConclusionsThe majority of participants in this study did not believe that ASD could be treated entirely using CAM. In addition, fewer than half of the participants believed that CAM therapies could improve different aspects of ASD, such as behavioral issues. The study highlighted the need for awareness among residents of Saudi Arabia regarding specific treatments for ASD.

Awareness on Traditional and Complementary Medicine among Undergraduate Students in Universiti Putra Malaysia

Introduction: In Malaysia, the use of Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&amp;CM) for health maintenance is growing yearly. However, the public might not be aware that the usage of T&amp;CM could have an effect if misused. Objective: This study aims to determine the level of knowledge, attitude, practice, and awareness of T&amp;CM among Health Sciences (HS) and Non-Health Sciences (NHS) students at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). Methods: A self-administered online questionnaire was distributed to undergraduate students in UPM through student’s group chat application. Results: There were no significant differences between HS and NHS students’ knowledge, attitude and practice. However, the level of awareness between the two groups were significantly different (HS: 10.07 ± 1.37, NHS: 9.63 ± 1.62) with p&lt;0.01. The main sources to obtain the information for T&amp;CM were family or friends (77.4%), the internet (77.4%), and mass media (59.2%). Common T&amp;CM used were aromatherapy (55.9%), prayer or spiritual healing (73.6%), and traditional herbal (64.1%). Patterns of usage for the above modalities were observed with aromatherapy (5.8%) and traditional herbal (4.8%) highest for weekly, whereas prayer or spiritual healing has the highest for daily usage (32.2%). Conclusion: Students exhibit adequate knowledge, demonstrate a positive attitude and good practice, and have a higher awareness of T&amp;CM. It is recommended for repeated cross-sectional studies to be conducted on the same respondents to track changes in their knowledge, attitude, practice, and awareness of T&amp;CM over time.

Explore the use of complementary and alternative medicine among Chinese gynaecological patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy: a qualitative phenomenological study

ObjectivesTo explore the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by Chinese gynaecological oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy and discuss measures to address the existing gaps.DesignQualitative phenomenology. Semistructured in-depth interview. Colaizzi’s...

Knowledge, attitude, and perceptions of healthcare professionals towards complementary and alternative medicine: a cross-sectional survey from twin cities of Pakistan

BackgroundThe growing popularity and use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) products among the general public worldwide has been well documented. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and perceptions (KAP) of Pakistani healthcare professionals (HCP) toward CAM and to document their views on integrating CAM education with the curriculum of undergraduate health science programs.MethodA cross-sectional study using simple random sampling was conducted for a duration of ten months among HCPs from Pakistan’s twin cities: Islamabad and RawalpindiThe data were collected using a self-administered and validated (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.71) questionnaire. This questionnaire consisted of five sections, namely; demographic, attitude, perception, integration and knowledge.ResultThe response rate was 91.20% (500/456). The participants included 160 physicians, 155 nurses,and 141 pharmacists. The majority of the respondents were females, 67.50%, and unmarried (60.50%).The majority of HCPs participating in this study agreed that CAM modalities may benefit conventional medicine system. Likewise, most HCPs perceived different CAM therapies aseffective treatment options. More than 50% HCPs suggested CAM elective courses in the curriculum of the health sciences program.Overall, 79.17% of the HCPs have poor knowledge of CAM. Physicians have the highest knowledge score 25.63%, followed by pharmacists 21.99%, and nurses 12.26%. Knowledge status was significantly associated with age, profession, and experience of practice (p = 0.001,0.001 & 0.019).ConclusionThis study revealed that despite the overall positive attitude of HCPs toward CAM, the score of knowledge is low. Therefore, the survey recommends evidence-based guidelines for the rationale use of CAM and updated syllabi of undergraduate health programs which will assist the future HCPs in increasing professionals’ knowledge toachieve better health outcomes for the general public.

Role of Yoga Therapy in Prevention of Tuberculosis in People Living with HIV Infection: Protocol for A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: TB is a common opportunistic infection (OI) among people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (PLHIV). PLHIV often resort to the use of traditional and complementary medicine (T&amp;CM) to supplement ART in order to maintain and improve their health. Yoga therapy has vast potential and beneficial effects on lungs. This study will assess the proportion of PLHIV developing TB in intervention group as compared to the control group. The secondary objective is to assess the improvement in CD4 T cell count, development of other OIs and to explore the socio-behavioural factors affecting the adherence to yoga programme and ART. Methods: We propose a hospital-based RCT comparing the yoga group with usual care control group using quantitative methods for 3 years. A total of 1800 PLHIVs will be studied with 1:2 intervention to control group ratio. Each participant will be involved for 24 months (intervention delivery/follow-up). PLHIV in the intervention group will be given yoga therapy training of 45- minute duration once a month for 3-months followed by self-practice at home. Independent t tests and Z test for proportion will be used to compare the two groups at baseline. Intention to treat analyses will be conducted with participants as originally allocated at randomization to avoid bias. Alpha level will be set at 5%, using two-tailed for all inferences. Discussion: This study will generate preliminary data about effect of yoga on TB and other opportunistic infections as well as the feasibility and utility of further RCT in the domain. Trial Registration: ISRCTN74208821

The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Coping with Stress by Patients with Gynecological Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study in Türkiye

Introduction: Gynecological cancers are long-term, challenging, and stressful diseases. In Türkiye, the majority of patients with gynecological cancer use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Considering the stress that gynecological cancer patients are exposed to, patients need to know how to cope with stress. Objective: This study aimed to determine the use of CAM and coping with stress by patients with gynecological cancer and the relationships between them and the factors that predict the approaches to coping with stress in women with gynecological cancer in Türkiye. Methods: This is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. The study was conducted with 204 patients between April and August 2022. The data of the study were collected by face-to-face interview and filled out by the patients using the Descriptive Information Form and the Stress Coping Styles Scale (SCSS). Number, percentage, mean, χ², one-way ANOVA, t test, and the Spearman correlation analysis were used in the data analysis. To analyze the multivariate independent associations between variables, a multivariate ordinal logistic regression model was used, with the SCSS domains as dependent variables. A 95% confidence interval was calculated, and all statistical tests had an alpha level of 0.05. Results: The mean age of the patients was 58.38 ± 12.64 years (32–80). The prevalence of CAM use by patients was 39.2%, and the most common types of CAM were herbal products (43.8%) and supplication (42.5%). The reasons for using CAM were relaxation (symptomatic)-feeling healthy (63.8%) and treating cancer (36.2%). No statistically significant difference was found between the use of CAM and their approaches to coping with stress (p > 0.05). As a result of multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis, education level under high school, having ovary, cervix, and endometrium cancer, being in the first stage of cancer, receiving chemotherapy, receiving surgical treatment, having another cancer patient in the social environment and increased interest in a partner after the diagnosis of cancer was associated with an effective coping with stress (p < 0.05, adjusted R² = 0.27, 0.79, and 0.32, respectively). Not working, experiencing an abortion, having another cancer patient in their social environment, being in the third stage of cancer, having an extended family, and living in a rural area of residence were associated with ineffective coping with stress (p < 0.05, adjusted R² = 0.20 and 0.24, respectively). Conclusions: The prevalence of CAM use by patients was low. While determining the approaches of the patients to cope with stress, their education level, place of residence, family type, diagnosis of cancer, stage of cancer, treatment, partner support, and stressful life events should be considered. As nurses, we need to be more knowledgeable about the use of CAM to provide correct guidance to our patients for access to accurate and effective information. We need to determine our patients’ stressors and how our patients cope with stress.