Frequency Of Complementary Alternative Medicine Use Research Articles

Relation of Complementary-Alternative Medicine use with glomerular filtration rate and depression in patients with chronic kidney disease at predialysis stage.

Complementary and alternative medicine is a broad field of health including all health care practices and methods, and their accompanying theories and beliefs. In the present study, we aimed to examine the frequency of complementary-alternative medicine use, and its relation with glomerular filtration rate and depression in patients with chronic kidney disease at predialysis stage. A total of 1053 predialysis patients; 518 female and 535 male, that were followed up with chronic kidney disease for at least 3 months were enrolled into the study. Demographic features, biochemical parameters and findings of physical examination were recorded. Their compliance to diet, and knowledge about disease were questioned. Beck depression inventory and questionnaire regarding complementary-alternative medicine use were performed. The overall frequency of complementary-alternative medicine use was 40.3% . Total ratio of herbal products was 46%. Complementary-alternative medicine use was significantly more frequent in female or single patients, and patients that informed about chronic kidney disease or under strict diet (P = 0.007, P = 0.016, P = 0.02, P = 0.016, respectively). When glomerular filtration rate of participants were considered, complementary-alternative medicine use was similar in different stages of kidney disease. Depression was observed in 41.9% of patients and significantly frequent in patients with alternative method use (P = 0.002). Depression score was higher as creatinine increases and glomerular filtration rate decreases (P = 0.002; r = 0.093). We determined that complementary-alternative medicine use gradually increases at predialysis stage as glomerular filtration rate decreases and there is a strict relation between complementary-alternative medicine use and depression or female gender. Disorder related stressors may lead to seeking of alternative methods.

The Role of Complementary Medicine in a Pediatric Day Center in Germany

Background: The role of complementary alternative medicine (CAM) in pediatrics has considerably increased in the last years. The knowledge about potential side effects and possible interactions with conventional drugs is still limited, and often pediatricians do not know whether their patients use CAM. This can be critical, as in order to diagnose and treat illnesses properly physicians need to know about the full extent of the self-administered therapy of their patients. Many studies have been conducted in other countries in order to assess the extent of CAM use and the types of substances that are consumed, but in Germany data in regard to pediatric interventions are lacking. We therefore developed a questionnaire to evaluate the frequency of CAM use among German pediatric patients. Patients and Methods: 115 parents visiting the pediatric day center in Epe between September and November 2011 responded to the questionnaire. The survey contains questions concerning the prevalence of CAM use and data about socioeconomic factors. Results: A total of 75.7% of all children enrolled in the study had already been treated with CAM by their parents, while only 43.6% of the parents knew that there can be interactions with CAM and prescribed drugs. In only half of the cases (50.6%) the pediatrician knew about the CAM usage of the child. Conclusion: The frequency of CAM usage among children is higher than anticipated. It is essential that pediatricians know about possible interactions with conventional medicine, and it lies in their responsibility to include the question about CAM usage in their standard protocols.

Complementary/alternative therapies in patients with breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer type in women. Surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy are the treatment options that are used one or more for the treatment of breast cancer, however it is known that some of the cancer patients use complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) other than their treatments. In this study we aimed to investigate the frequency of CAM use and the type of CAM used in patients with breast cancer.

Complementary medicine use in children and young adults with inflammatory bowel disease

OBJECTIVES: We examined the use of complementary alternative medicine (CAM) in children and young adults with inflammatory bowel disease. METHODS: After validation of a questionnaire and completion of a pilot survey, children and young adults with inflammatory bowel disease were enrolled in three centers of pediatric gastroenterology (Boston, Detroit, and London). RESULTS: Two hundred eight questionnaires were completed in total (Boston, 120; Detroit, 37; London, 51). Ages ranged from 3.8 to 23.0 yr, 58% were male, 57% had Crohn’s disease, and 35% had ulcerative colitis. The frequency of CAM use was 41%. The most common CAMs were megavitamin therapy (19%), dietary supplements (17%), and herbal medicine (14%). Parental CAM use and the number of adverse effects from conventional medicines were predictors of CAM use (odds ratio = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.2–3.1, p = 0.02; odds ratio = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.2–1.5, p < 0.001, respectively). The most important reasons respondents gave for using CAM were side effects from prescribed medicines, prescribed medicines not working as well as they had hoped, and hoping for a cure. Fifty-nine percent of respondents not taking CAM were interested in learning more about it. CONCLUSIONS: In our survey over 40% of children with chronic inflammatory bowel disease used complementary medicine in addition to conventional therapies. Parental CAM use and number of adverse effects from conventional therapies were the only independent predictors of CAM use. Some complementary therapies have potential for adverse effects and for drug interactions with conventional treatments. Physicians should take a thorough history of CAM use in children with chronic inflammatory bowel disease.

Complementary medicine use in children and young adults with inflammatory bowel disease.

We examined the use of complementary alternative medicine (CAM) in children and young adults with inflammatory bowel disease. After validation of a questionnaire and completion of a pilot survey, children and young adults with inflammatory bowel disease were enrolled in three centers of pediatric gastroenterology (Boston, Detroit, and London). Two hundred eight questionnaires were completed in total (Boston, 120; Detroit, 37; London, 51). Ages ranged from 3.8 to 23.0 yr, 58% were male, 57% had Crohn's disease, and 35% had ulcerative colitis. The frequency of CAM use was 41%. The most common CAMs were megavitamin therapy (19%), dietary supplements (17%), and herbal medicine (14%). Parental CAM use and the number of adverse effects from conventional medicines were predictors of CAM use (odds ratio = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.2-3.1, p = 0.02; odds ratio = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.2-1.5, p < 0.001, respectively). The most important reasons respondents gave for using CAM were side effects from prescribed medicines, prescribed medicines not working as well as they had hoped, and hoping for a cure. Fifty-nine percent of respondents not taking CAM were interested in learning more about it. In our survey over 40% of children with chronic inflammatory bowel disease used complementary medicine in addition to conventional therapies. Parental CAM use and number of adverse effects from conventional therapies were the only independent predictors of CAM use. Some complementary therapies have potential for adverse effects and for drug interactions with conventional treatments. Physicians should take a thorough history of CAM use in children with chronic inflammatory bowel disease.