Traditional And Complementary Medicine Research Articles

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors of Medical Residents towards Traditional and Complementary Medicine: A Cross-sectional Study

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of medical residents working at a faculty of medicine hospital about Traditional and Complementary Medicine (TCM). Material-Method: This is a cross-sectional study. The study was conducted with clinical science assistants working at the faculty of medicine between 15 July and 15 December 2021. A survey containing questions to determine the clinical and demographic characteristics of the participants and their knowledge, behavior, and attitudes toward TCM applications was applied to the participants. Results: A total of 261 medical residents participated. The average age was 29.4±2.6 years and 51.7% (n=135) were male. 82% of the participants were studying internal medicine sciences. The average length of time as a physician was found to be 4.4 years, and the average length of time as a physician in the total branch was 2.6 years. Cupping therapy was the most known method with 55.6%. The most frequently used method (19.2%) was phytotherapy; the most frequently recommended (16.5%) was phytotherapy; the most formally trained (4.2%), was cupping therapy; the most desired formal training (41%) was acupuncture; the most frequently declared method (11.9%) as another TCM method was diet. 36.4% of the participants found TCM useful. 82% thought that these methods should only be applied by trained physicians. Conclusion: It was determined that the level of TCM knowledge among assistant physicians was low. Although the majority of participants had a positive attitude towards TCM, they had low rates of application, implementation, and recommendation.

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.

A Comparative View on the Traditional and Complementary Medicine (TCM) Regulation in Malaysia and China

The Traditional and Complementary Medicine (TCM) law in Malaysia needs to be revised to address TCM issues. The inadequacies may impact the quality of the TCM services delivery and the safety of the practitioner, patients, and the public. This study comparatively explored laws in Malaysia and China to recommend improvement on Malaysia's current legal position. The study adopts a qualitative method comprising a doctrinal study and content analysis approach on the healthcare and TCM-related legal framework. The expected outcome of this study will be significant to the government and policymakers.

Pain and Discomfort: An Ethnographic Study of Pharmacological, Traditional and Complementary Medicine, (TCM) and Self-Care Models in Quito, Ecuador

The research is framed within the recognition of three contemporary models that modern citizens intermittently turn to when facing the challenges of pain and discomfort: the biomedical model based on medicalization and the use of pharmaceuticals; traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) based on local-indigenous knowledge and the use of plants and natural compounds; the self-care model that combines elements of the first two and adds personal practices. The article presents the results of ethnographies in 265 households in Quito conducted between 2022 and 2023, addressing the questions: What were the main pharmaceuticals in the households? What were the meanings, values, and uses of industrial drugs in the households? Pharmaceuticals kept at home were inventoried, and elements of TCM were also found, demonstrating the combination of models in everyday life. The most striking pharmacological findings were the high concentration and storage in domestic spaces (drawers, countertops, showcases, rooms, bathrooms, among others) of analgesics, gastrointestinal medicines, antibiotics, supplements, and vitamins, and antiallergics. The anthropological meanings of medicinal compounds revolved around safety, trust, and the ease of purchase, use, and access in the household landscape. In pharmacological terms, the study demonstrates the active role of the medicalizing model that positions industrial pharmaceuticals as immediate responses structured around a population's habitus that normalizes their use and consumption. The research allows for a reconsideration of collective health and its contemporary challenges as a multiple, rational phenomenon, with characteristics of therapeutic hybridization and medical plurality.

Recognition of evidence-based traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) in G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration: Pointers for Homoeopathy

Recognition of evidence-based traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) in G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration: Pointers for Homoeopathy

Barriers to Applying Integrative Oncology from the Perspective of the Care Providers in Iran: A Mixed-Methods Study

ObjectiveThe present study aims to explain and determine the use of integrative oncology from the perspective of the care providers in Iran. Data SourcesThis mixed-methods study is a convergent type of study with quantitative and qualitative phases that have been performed simultaneously. The quantitative phase was a descriptive study that was conducted through convenience sampling. With the use of a psychometrically evaluated questionnaire with 10 items, 202 nurses and physicians were included in the study to assess their views on the integration of traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) within supportive cancer care. The qualitative part of the study was conducted through semistructured interviews with 11 care providers. The interviews were analyzed through conventional content analysis and the method proposed by Graneheim and Lundman with the use of MaxQDA software. ConclusionAfter the quantitative and the qualitative data were combined, we identified four main categories as the important dimensions of using TCM: patients' main expectations of TCM services, reasons for using these services, existing challenges and barriers, and recommendations and strategies to improve the interaction between physicians and patients to facilitate the use of integrative oncology . Implication for Nursing PracticeAlthough cancer patients use TCM due to a wide range of expectations, there are many barriers to integrative oncology in Iran. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to the benefits of conventional medical and TCM treatments, conceptualize integrative oncology, and try to meet the existing challenges.

Modulating Effects of Zingiberaceae Phenolic Compounds on Neurotrophic Factors and Their Potential as Neuroprotectants in Brain Disorders and Age-Associated Neurodegenerative Disorders: A Review.

The Zingiberaceae family possess various phenolic compounds that have significant systemic bioactivities in the brain, including in age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Neurotrophins are growth factors that protect neurons from oxidative stress, and dysregulation of the neurotrophic system may result in neurocognitive disease. Phenolic compounds from the Zingiberaceae family have been used in traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) to improve cognitive functions. These compounds may affect the expression of neurotrophic agents, but their underlying molecular mechanisms require further investigation. Therefore, the goal of this review is to determine the expression and functional roles of phenolic compounds from the Zingiberaceae family in brain disorders and age-related neurodegenerative disorders. While previous studies have proposed various mechanisms for the neuroprotective activity of these compounds, their precise mechanism of action remains complex and poorly understood. Despite some promising findings, there are still shortcomings in the therapeutic use of these herbs, and current interventions involving the Zingiberaceae family appear to be clinically insufficient. This article aims to summarize recent discoveries of phenolic compounds from several Zingiberaceae family members and their use as neuroprotectants and provide the first review of evidence-linked neuroprotective activity of bioactive ingredients from prominent members of the Zingiberaceae family.

The Influence of Medicine Approaches on Patient Trust, Satisfaction, and Loyalty.

The increase in traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) methods has revealed the necessity of determining relevant behavioral tendencies among healthcare users. In our study, the evaluation of TCM approaches of healthcare users living in North Cyprus in terms of treatment effectiveness, patient trust and patient satisfaction, and the effects of these variables on patient loyalty, were investigated. Data were collected utilizing the scale approach as well as the survey technique in order to measure the variables in the study. A total of 452 participants completed the survey. TCM has a positive effect on treatment effectiveness, patient trust and patient satisfaction. Patient trust and patient satisfaction have a positive effect on patient loyalty, whereas treatment effectiveness did not have a significant effect on patient loyalty. There is a significant and positive mediating effect of patient trust and patient satisfaction between TCM and patient loyalty. However, the mediating effect of treatment effectiveness is not significant between TCM and patient loyalty. This study will help researchers and practitioners understand the importance of attitude, trust, effectiveness, satisfaction and loyalty in relation to TCM. It is suggested that studies that measure the behaviors of patients should increase in order to obtain better health outcomes.

Traditional and complementary medicine use for knee osteoarthritis

Objectives: This study aims to determine the traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) use in patients with knee osteoarthritis, by whom these methods are recommended, which methods provide the patients with the best outcome, and to contribute to the awareness of physicians about TCM methods. Methods: One hundred four patients over the age of 40 who were diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis and had complaints for at least 6 months were included in the study. The TCM applications in the previous treatments of the patients, and whether they used additional medications or not, and finally, the TCM method they benefited from the most, and who recommended and applied these methods were questioned and recorded. Results: In our study, we found that the most commonly used treatments were phytotherapy products and supportive drugs, in line with the literature. We did not find the use of hypnosis, hirudotherapy, reflexology, homeopathy, osteopathy, chiropractic, maggot applications, apitherapy, or music therapy methods. TCM methods of patients, we determined that they learned from their families and close circles rather than the doctors they applied to. Conclusions: Patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis commonly use TCM methods, phytotherapy being in the first place.

Traditional medicine treatment in addressing the issue of women's stress and depression: A policy implementation perspective

The aim of this article is to highlight the importance of traditional treatment as a complimentary method of treatment for women with postpartum depression and stress. Even though the modern treatment and medicine have been recognised in improving the society’s health and well-being, the traditional medicine and treatment have been part of the society since the very old days. Having said this, the government has developed a National Policy of Traditional and Complementary Medicine (TCM) to facilitate the development of traditional and complementary medicine in order to achieve the quality and safety level of treatment practices recognized by the Helath Ministry by promoting the correct and reasonable use of the medicine, especially in primary health care. The way forward is discussed.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Opinions of Health Professionals and Students on Traditional and Complementary Medicine Practices in Turkey: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: To perform a systematic compilation and meta-analysis of research on the knowledge, attitudes, and opinions of health professionals and students on traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) practices in Turkey. Methods: This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis study. The literature review on the subject of the research was carried out between February 25 and March 8, 2022. A search was made on Google Scholar in Turkish and English with appropriate keywords for 2000 and later. Results: A total of 43 studies were identified that met the acceptance criteria. The first three lines of TCM implementations used are, as follows: (i) massage, (ii) herbal therapy, and (iii) acupuncture. The first three lines for the most well-known TCM implementations are, as follows: (i) acupuncture, (ii) herbal therapy, and (iii) massage. The prevalence of the opinion as “TCM should be included in the curriculum of medical and health schools” ranged from 36.7% to 90.4%. The prevalence of the opinion of “It should be applied by evaluating their effectiveness with controlled studies” was between 34.4% and 95.7%. The prevalence of meta-analysis for training on TCM was found to be 21% (95% CI: 14%-29%). The meta-analysis prevalence of participants using any TCM implementation was 45% (95% CI: 37%-54%). The meta-analysis prevalence of knowing TCM implementations was found to be 66% (95% CI: 56%-75%). Conclusion: There is increasing interest in TCM and concerns remain due to the lack of evidence-based studies. The frequency of negative thinking in physicians is higher than that of other healthcare personnel. However, in general, positive opinions about TCM were found to be dominant over negative opinions. The demand for TCM training and including TCM in school curricula is striking.

Disclosure of Traditional and Complementary Medicine Use and its Associated Factors to Medical Doctors Among the Longhouse Community in Julau, Sarawak

Traditional and Complementary Medicine (TCM) practice is increasing worldwide and Malaysia is no exception. Despite the wide use of TCM by the population, there seems to be an issue of not disclosing TCM use to their medical doctor. The aim was to explore the related factors that influence the disclosure of TCM use to medical doctor among respondents in selected longhouses in Sarawak. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 90 respondents from selected Iban longhouses in Julau, Sarikei District. Data were collected using face-to-face interview based on questionnaire consisted of sociodemographic characteristics, TCM use and disclosure, health profile, healthcare utilization and attitude towards TCM. To determine the factors related to disclosure of TCM use, independent t-test and Chi-square (χ2) test was used to examine the relationship between various variables and disclosure of TCM use. The mean age of studied participants was 45.20 (±14.92) years and 80% were married. The prevalence of ever used of TCM treatment was 70%. The rate of disclosure of TCM use among respondents was 27%. Univariate analyses yielded three main factors that significant associated with the disclosure of TCM use among respondents which were education level, presence of chronic diseases and type of chronic diseases (heart disease). The rate of disclosure of TCM use in this study is very low consistent with other local and foreign studies. Thus, other relevant factors that are not studied need to be further explored for better understanding in order to have better integration between TCM and current health system.

Traditional and Complementary Medicine Practices Used by Women with Premenstrual Syndrome

Objectives: This research was carried out to determine the Traditional and Complementary Medicine (TCM) practices used by women experiencing Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS). 
 Method: The sample of this descriptive study comprised 357 women who applied to the “Health Practice and Research Center Gynecology and Obstetrics” polyclinic of a university in Turkey. Study data were collected by using the Personal Information Form and the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale (PMSS) to determine the life situation of women with PMS. 
 Results: It was determined that 82.9% of women experienced PMS and that 83.8% of women living with PMS used TCM practices. The most commonly used TCM practices of the women were determined as follows: hot application on abdomen (90.7%), hot shower (85.1%), fennel tea (26.2%), walking (23.8%), massage (21.8%), yoga (11.7%), and music (10.5%). Almost all of the women undertook hot application to the abdomen, hot showers, massages, walking, and yoga (99.1%-99.5%-90.7%-96.6%-93.1%). Overall, 80% of the women who listened to music and 60% of the women who drank fennel tea experienced benefits as a result.
 Conclusion: PMS is a commonly observed health issue among women, and many frequently use TCM practices to cope. Hot applications were found to be the most commonly used TCM.
 
 Keywords: Premenstrual Syndrome, Traditional and Complementary Medicine, Women’s Health

Traditional and Complementary Medicine use: Fibromyalgic Patients

Aim The aim of this study is to determine the Traditional and Complementary Medicine (TCM) use among patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS), their perspective and if they benefited from these applications. Method This cross-sectional study was held in Adnan Menderes University Hospital, during 01/10/2019-01/02/2020. A face-to-face questionnaire was applied to consecutive volunteered FMS patients in outpatient clinic. The questionnaire consists of 3 sections and 34 questions, including the patients' sociodemographic, FMS-related features, and TCM-related questions. Results Of the 140 patients, 54.3% had stated that they used at least one TCM method. The most common methods were phytotherapy (43.4%), acupuncture (39.5%), cupping (21.1%), nutritional supplements (17.1%), and chiropractic (9.2%). 63.2% of the patients indicated that they consulted the doctor before using TCM. 77.6% of patients stated that they benefited from TCM methods and 72.4% of these patients were willing to recommend these methods to others. Conclusion The rate of TCM use and the rate of benefit from these methods were found to be high among FMS patients in our study. Keywords: ibromyalgia, traditional medicine, TCM, family medicine.

LEGAL DIMENSION OF TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE PRACTICES IN TURKEY

Context and Aim: The World Health Organization defines traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) practices as “the sum total of the knowledge, skills, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures, whether explicable or not, used in the maintenance of health as well as in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness”. This study aims to analyse the main legal regulations on TCM practices in Turkey.
 Methodology: The study is based on a systematic review and analysis of desk research and data in the literature. TCM practices were analysed by reviewing the literature screening in particular data of the Ministry of Health, the CAMbrella study which had been conducted by the European Union and the WHO Global Report On Traditional And Complementary Medicine 2019. The literature review was carried out in “Ulakbim Turkish Academic Network and Information Center”, “Google Scholar“. The research was made between September 2021 and October 2021, and 5 keywords were used: “traditional medicine”, “complementary medicine”, "integrative medicine", "alternative medicine" and "functional medicine".
 Findings: TCM practices in Turkey are based on the Supplementary Article 13 of the Law No. 1219 on the Practice of Medicine and Medical Arts, Article 9/c and Annex 11 of the Health Services Basic Law No. 3359, and the Presidential Decree No. 1. Traditional and Complementary Medicine Practices Regulation (“Regulation”), dated 2014, stipulates the TCM practices in 15 areas, including acupuncture, apitherapy, phytotherapy, hypnosis, leech, homeopathy, chiropractic, cupping, larva, mesotherapy, prolotherapy, osteopathy, ozone, reflexology and music therapy. Although the regulation basically specified the qualifications of TCM practitioners, the minimum requirements of the practice centres, and in which cases TCM practice can be imply or not, the issues such as the obligation to informed consent regarding TCM practices, medical malpractice regarding TCM practices is not fully regulated. In this respect, it is required to make comprehensive and detailed regulations on these issues.
 Conclusion: TCM practices fill an important gap in terms of human health in areas that modern medicine cannot deal with. It is important to make the necessary legal regulations, especially to regulate informed consent; to define the care standards for medical malpractices regarding TCM practices, to strengthen the evidence base of TCM practices just like the conventional medicine practices.

Traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) usage and its association with Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC) among individuals with metabolic syndrome in primary care

BackgroundTraditional and Complementary Medicine (TCM) is widely used particularly among patients with chronic diseases in primary care. However, evidence is lacking regarding TCM use among patients with Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and its association with patients’ experience on chronic disease conventional care that they receive. Therefore, this study aims to determine the prevalence and pattern of TCM use, compare the patients’ experience of chronic disease care using the Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care - Malay version (PACIC-M) questionnaire between TCM users and non-users and determine the factors associated with TCM use among patients with MetS in primary care.MethodologyA cross-sectional study was conducted at a university primary care clinic. Patients aged 18 to 80 years old with MetS were recruited. Socio-demographic characteristic, clinical characteristics and information on TCM use and its pattern were recorded in a proforma. Patient’s experience of chronic disease conventional care was measured using PACIC-M questionnaire. The comparison of PACIC-M mean score between TCM users and non-users was measured using independent t-test. The factors associated with TCM use were determined by simple logistic regression (SLogR), followed by multiple logistic regression (MLogR).ResultsOut of 394 participants, 381 (96.7%) were included in the final analysis. Of the 381 participants, 255 (66.9%) were TCM users (95% CI 62.7, 71.7). Only 36.9% of users disclosed about TCM use to their health care providers (HCP). The overall mean PACIC-M score was 2.91 (SD ± 0.04). TCM users had significantly higher mean PACIC-M score compared to non-users (2.98 ± 0.74 vs 2.75 ± 0.72, p = 0.01). The independent factors associated with TCM use were being female (Adj. OR 2.50, 95% CI 1.55, 4.06), having high education level (Adj. OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.37, 3.41) and having high overall PACIC-M mean score (Adj. OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.10, 2.03).ConclusionTCM use was highly prevalent in this primary care clinic. However, the disclosure rate of TCM use to HCP was low. Females, those with high education and high PACIC-M mean score were more likely to use TCM. Further research should explore the reasons for their TCM use, despite having good experience in conventional chronic disease care.

Evaluation of Knowledge and Attitudes About The Traditional and Complementary Medicine Practices of the Patients with Neuropatic Pain Who Applied to the Physıcal Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic

Objective: To evaluate the frequency of traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) use, the variety of applications, the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients with neuropathic pain, and their knowledge and attitudes about TCM practices.Material and Methods: A total of 250 patients with neuropathic pain were included in this, cross-sectional study. The patients were divided into two groups: medication only (group 1, n=119) and medication with TCM practices (group 2, n=131). Questionnaires were completed by the patients in face-to-face interviews by a blinded physician.Results: The mean age of the patients in group 2 (50.68±16.39) was found to be higher than in group 1 (p=0.043). In terms of chronic diseases, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and other diseases were found to be more common in group 2 than in group 1 (p<0.05). The number of patients with duration of neuropathic pain more than 5 years, the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS) pain scale and the Neuropathic Pain 4 (DN4) scale scores were found to be higher in group 2 than in group 1 (p<0.05). At least one TCM is known by %78.6 of group 2 and 61.3% of group 1 (p=0.003). The three most commonly used TCM practice in group 2 were wet cupping/cupping therapy (24%), leeches (22.8%), and acupuncture (11.6%).Conclusion: It was determined that the mean age of patients who used medication with TCM practices together for the treatment of neuropathic pain was higher, neuropathic pain severity was higher, and neuropathic pain duration was longer than patients who used medication only for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

Attitude Analysis Against Traditional and Complementary Medicine: An Application Specific to Covid-19

Background: In the ages when modern medicine did not exist yet, people developed some methods to treat their diseases with their own efforts. These treatment methods consist of empirical applications based on experience and knowledge developed in the light of centuries of experience and transferred from generation to generation. Although it lost its old effect and wide application area with the development of modern medicine, folk medicine still exists today. Aim: Examining the attitudes and behaviors of people towards modern and traditional medicine practices by taking demographic and individual differences as reference during the Covid-19 epidemic. The data set of this study was obtained through a questionnaire applied on 396 individuals living in Erzurum city center in 2021. Reliability Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (RACFA), Chi-square test, independent sample t test and ANOVA test were used within the scope of the study. Results: As the access to modern medicine increases and the learning styles of generations differ, the application dimension of traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) weakens. On the other hand, the level of satisfaction with modern medicine also changes in parallel with expectations. The significant relationships between the variables in the study findings focus on questions related to modern medicine. A significant relationship was found between the intellectual perspective to traditional and complementary medicine sub-dimension and the presence of people who had Covid-19 in the close circle of the participants. Conclusion: It has been determined that individuals see traditional and complementary medicine as complementary rather than an alternative to modern medicine, and although they have above-average theoretical knowledge, their application aspects are weak. Keywords: Traditional and Complementary Medicine, Folk Medicine, Covid-19, Attitude Analysis

Knowledge, Attitude and Behavior of Medical Faculty Students about Traditional and Complementary

Purpose: The use of traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) methods is gradually increasing in the world and in our country. This study was carried out to determine the knowledge, attitude and behavior of medical faculty students, who are future physician candidates. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 825 out of 912 students in Fırat University Faculty of Medicine were reached (90,4%). The research data were collected by the direct observation of the questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic characteristics, questions about the knowledge and usage of TCM methods, and the Holistic Complementary and Alternative Medicine Attitude Scale (HCAMQ). Results: 52,1% of the students are women and the average age is 21,57 ± 0,08 years. Massage, acupuncture and vitamins were found to be the methods that students learned the most about TCM applications. Among the sources of information about TCM methods, internet comes first and media comes second. 22,1% of the students used any of the TCM methods. 50,1% of the students are undecided about the benefit of TCM and 53,1% think that it should be included in the medical education curriculum. 59,4% of the students want to receive training on TCM methods. While 47,8% of those who use TCM methods find it useful, 4,4% find it unhelpful (p <0,05). The total point average of the students in HCAMQ was determined as 32,7 ± 0,17. Those who used TCM methods showed a more positive attitude towards TCM applications than those who did not (p <0,05). Conclusion: Although students lack knowledge about TCM methods, their attitudes are positive. It is important for the medical faculty students, who are the future physician candidates, to reach the right information in order to be trained as individuals who will both apply TCM and provide information.

Utilization of complementary and traditional medicine practitioners among middle-aged and older adults in India: results of a national survey in 2017\u20132018

BackgroundLack of information exists about the use of traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) use among middle-aged and older adults in India, which led to studying the estimates of past-12-month Ayurveda/Yoga/Naturopathy/Unani/Siddha/Homeopathy (AYUSH) practitioner and traditional health practitioner (THP) utilization in India.MethodsThe study included 72,262 individuals (45 years and older) from the cross-sectional 2017–2018 Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) Wave 1.ResultsThe prevalence of past 12-month AYUSH practitioner utilization was 6.5%, THP use 7.0%, and AYUSH or THP use 13.0%. The rate of AYUSH practitioner utilization was determined by older age (≥60 years) (Adjusted Odds Ratio-AOR: 1.20, 95% Confidence Interval-CI: 1.07–1.34), having pain (AOR: 1.48, 95% CI: 1.29–1.69), any bone or joint diseases (AOR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.35–1.82), current tobacco use (AOR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.12–1.50), male sex (AOR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.68–0.85), high subjective socioeconomic status (AOR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.60–0.87), urban residence (AOR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.57–0.88), diabetes (AOR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.55–0.81), chronic heart disease (AOR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.37–0.73), and having a health insurance cover (AOR: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.30–0.44). The rate of THP utilization was determined by depressive symptoms (AOR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.01–1.35), sleep problems (AOR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.08–1.51), having pain (AOR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.55–2.15), current tobacco use (AOR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.22–1.51), having health insurance cover (AOR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.33–0.51), hypertension (AOR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.71–0.95), diabetes (AOR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.39–0.65), urban residence (AOR: 0.25, 95% CI: 0.19–0.34), and high subjective socioeconomic status (AOR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.58–0.85).ConclusionA moderate prevalence of AYUSH practitioner and THP use among middle-aged and older adults in India was found and several factors associated with AYUSH practitioner and THP use were identified.