Types Of Complementary Alternative Medicine Research Articles

IJCM_34A: Usage of complementary / alternative medicine (CAM) and perception towards it among cancer patients admitted in tertiary care hospitals

Background: Cancer being a deadly disease, cancer victims face great challenges with respect to their routines, roles and relationships. The usage of other means to cure illness is called complementary and alternative medicine or CAM. This study is done to determine the proportion and usage pattern of CAM for cancer treatment and to assess the perception towards CAM among cancer patients. Methodologys: It was a Descriptive cross-sectional study, carried out among cancer patients admitted to tertiary care hospitals attached to a medical college. The interview schedule was prepared which consists of four sections including the socio-demographic details, details about the diagnosis and treatment of cancer among the study participants, details about the usage pattern of Complementary medicine, and the perception of cancer victims towards Complementary medicine for cancer treatment. Data will be entered and analyzed by using the statistical software Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 11.5. Results: Out of 105 participants majority of cancer patients,74 (70%) of them were of the age group between 40- 70 years. 65% of the patients had addictions among which 60 (90.9%) were addicts for more than 10 years. The majority of the patients underwent radiotherapy 85 (81.0%), followed by Chemotherapy 72 (68.6%), The number of patients that have used CAM in our study was found to be 12 (11.4%). Many of them chose Ayurveda as their type of CAM 5 (41.7%) followed by home remedies usage 4 (25%). 39 (38.5%) believe that there should be more evidence that CAM works while 38 (33.8%) don’t need any evidence about it. 45 (42.9%) feel that CAM treatment does not work in the treatment of cancer while 35 (33.3%) remained neutral in this aspect. 85 (81.0%) are satisfied with present cancer treatment. 78 (74.3%) agreed that Modern medicine is most effective for treatment of cancer. Conclusion: The usage of CAM in our study was found to be minimal. The majority of the participants are satisfied with modern medicine and most of the patients are satisfied with allopathic treatment.

GAMBARAN PENGGUNAAN COMPLEMENTARY ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE (CAM) PADA PASIEN HIPERTENSI DI WILAYAH KERJA PUSKESMAS BLAHBATUH II

Hypertension is an increase in a person's systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg and diastolic ≥ 90 mmHg. The importance of hypertension sufferers to control blood pressure to prevent cardiovascular risk, one of which is the non-pharmacological alternative of Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM). This study aims to describe the use of CAM in hypertensive patients in the working area of ​​the Blahbatuh II Health Center. This research method is a non-experimental quantitative descriptive study with a cross-sectional method. The results of this study found that the most use of CAM for the treatment of hypertension in the working area of ​​the Blahbatuh II Health Center were women (59.6%), aged 56-65 years (51.4%), high school education (42.2%), most of them not working/household (33.9%), income ≤ Rp. 2,627,000 (39.4%), suffer from hypertension for 1-5 years (76.1%), have no family history of hypertension (56.9%), hypertension medication, namely amlodipine (52.3%), drinking schedule every day (45.9%). Respondents used CAM since diagnosis (66.1%), CAM was combined with conventional drugs (62.5%) and was recommended by the family (45.8%), the reason that using CAM was very trusting CAM (47.2%), and the reasons for not using CAM were the reasons doctors did not recommend (54.1%), felt a positive effect (94.4%) and were satisfied (94.4%) using CAM. The most common types of CAM were biological therapy in the form of herbs (56.9%), the frequency of using CAM once a day (45.8%), the types of plants used were celery and starfruit (19.5%), plant parts namely leaves (41.5%), the method of processing is boiled first (61%), with a dose of one glass (48.8%) and the use of herbal medicine is taken orally (80.5%). The conclusion of this study was that the sociodemographic characteristics of the use of CAM were mostly aged 56-65 years (51.4%), female sex (59.6%), last education SMK/SMA (42.2%), and the use of CAM was mostly used since suffering from hypertension as many (66.1%) of respondents with the most types of CAM namely biological therapy in the form of herbs (56.9%).

Use of Complementary Alternative Medicine and the Associated Factors among Patients with Depression

Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM) has been widely used in the world, but limited data are available on the use of CAM in depression. This study aimed to evaluate the use of CAM and its associated factors in depression. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 depressed patients referred to the Yasuj Neurology and Psychiatric Clinic, southern Iran, between 2019 and 2020. A valid semistructured international questionnaire was used; amongst the participants, 230 (77%) were female. The mean age of the patients was 41.47 ± 12.2 years and the mean duration of the disease was 4.49 ± 4.88 years. The prevalence of CAM use was 37.6% among the patients. The results showed a significant difference between the CAM users and nonusers regarding the disease duration (p=0.045) and body mass index (p=0.007). Moreover, the results of logistic regression analysis revealed a significant relationship between CAM use and female gender, disease duration, overweight, obesity, and self-employment (p=0.039, p=0.028, p=0.029, p=0.048, and p=0.044, resp.). The most frequently used type of CAM was herbal medicine (97.35%) followed by pray therapy (23.89%). Additionally, the most widely used herbs were borage (77%), chamomile (46.9%), and lavender (21.2%). Furthermore, 62.8% of the patients reported that their main reason for using CAM was its effectiveness. The majority of the patients (77%) had not consulted their physicians prior to utilization of CAM therapies. Herbal medicine was the most common form of CAM in depression, with a high satisfaction level. Thus, it is necessary to increase physicians' awareness in different fields of CAM.

Use of complementary medicine among patients with allergic rhinitis: an Italian nationwide survey

BackgroundA growing use of complementary alternative medicine (CAM) has been found in Europe as well in Italy for chronic diseases, including the allergic rhinitis. The study aims at investigating the prevalence and the pattern of use of CAM amongst patient with allergic rhinitis.MethodsA 12-item questionnaire was developed by a panel of experts and administered to patients with moderate/severe allergic rhinitis consecutively referring during the study time-frame to seven allergy clinics placed all around Italy. The items covered several topics including reason for choosing CAM, its clinical efficacy, schedule of treatment, costs, type of therapy.ResultsOverall 359 questionnaires were analysed. 20% of patients declared CAM use. A significant correlation between the use of CAM and female sex (p < 0.01) and with a higher level of education (p < 0.01) was observed. CAM users were adults (36% in the range between 20 and 40 years and 32% between 41 and 60 years). Youngsters (< 20 years) (7%) and elderly (> 60) (25%) less frequently used CAM.The most used type of CAM was homoeopathy (77% of patients). 60% of users would recommend CAM despite a poor clinical efficacy according to 67% of them.ConclusionsAlthough no evidence supports CAM efficacy and safety, the number of patients who relies on it is not negligible. As allergic rhinitis is not a trivial disease, the use of CAM as the only treatment for it should be discouraged at any level, but by general practitioner and specialist in particular.

Association between belief and attitude toward preference of complementary alternative medicine use.

BackgroundThere is a steep increase in the consumer use of complementary alternative medicine (CAM), with many users unaware of the need to inform their health care providers. Various predictors including psychosocial factors such as beliefs and behavior have been accounted for preference toward CAM use, with varying results.MethodsThis study investigates the belief and attitude regarding preference toward CAM use among the Malaysian population by using a questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study.ResultsA large majority of the 1,009 respondents admitted to taking at least one type of CAM (n=730, 72.3%). Only 20 (1.9%) respondents were found to have negative beliefs (total score <35), 4 (0.4%) respondents had neutral beliefs (total score =35), and 985 (97.6%) respondents had positive belief toward CAM (total score >36). A total of 507 (50.2%) respondents were categorized as having a negative CAM attitude, while 502 (49.8%) respondents were categorized as having a positive CAM attitude. It was demonstrated that there was a positive correlation between belief and attitude score (ρ=0.409, P<0.001). Therefore, the higher the belief in CAM, the more positive the attitude was toward CAM. Those who were using CAM showed a stronger belief (P=0.002), with a more positive attitude (P<0.001) toward it, than those who were not using CAM.ConclusionIdentifying belief regarding preference toward CAM use among the public could potentially reveal those with a higher tendency to use CAM. This is important as not everyone feels the need to reveal the use of CAM to their health care providers, which could lead to serious repercussions such as interactions and adverse effects.

Social network bridging potential and the use of complementary and alternative medicine in later life

The use of complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) is typically modeled as a function of individual health beliefs, including changes in perceptions of conventional medicine, an orientation toward more holistic care, and increasing patient involvement in health care decision-making. Expanding on research that shows that health-related behavior is shaped by social networks, this paper examines the possibility that CAM usage is partly a function of individuals' social network structure. We argue that people are more likely to adopt CAM when they function as bridges between network members who are otherwise not (or poorly) connected to each other. This circumstance not only provides individuals with access to a wider range of information about treatment options, it also reduces the risk of sanctioning by network members if one deviates from conventional forms of treatment. We test this idea using data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP), a nationally representative study of older Americans. Analyses of egocentric social network data show that older adults with bridging potential in their networks are significantly more likely to engage in a greater number of types of CAM. We close by discussing alternative explanations of these findings and their potential implications for research on CAM usage.

Complementary alternative medicine use amongst breast cancer patients in the Northern region of peninsular Malaysia.

Breast cancer is a common cancer affecting women in Malaysia and the use of complementary/ alternative medicine (CAM) has been associated with delays in getting treatment. The aim of the study was to explore the use of CAM and the influencing factors in the Northern region of Peninsular Malaysia. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study on a convenience sample of 100 Malaysian breast cancer survivors. The reported use of CAM among the breast cancer survivors was lower than in other studies but the types of CAM used had a similar pattern with nutrition supplements/vitamins being the most common. The factors that positively influenced the use of complimentary/traditional therapy were income and getting information from television or radio. Survivors with access to internet/blogs appear to have lower odds of using complimentary/traditional therapy compared to the respondents who reported no such access. Information transmitted via television and radio appears to have a positive influence on CAM use by breast cancer patients compared to other information sources and it is important to ensure that such information is accurate and impartial.

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.

Prevalence of complementary/alternative medicines (CAMs) in a cancer population in northern Italy receiving antineoplastic treatments and relationship with quality of life and psychometric features

To explore the use of CAM (Complementary/Alternative Medicine) in a population of cancer patients undergoing antineoplastic therapy, and to compare differences in sociodemographics, quality of life, and psychological features between CAM users and non-users. The study population was consecutive cancer patients undergoing antineoplastic treatment in three Piedmont cancer centers. Data were collected from anonymous questionnaires investigating CAM use or not, and what type if used, and sociodemographics, and through validated psychometric instruments to assess psychological features: Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Mini Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale. Of the 288 evaluable patients, 52 (18.1%) reported using one or more types of CAM; the most often cited were herbs, special diets and body-based practices, such as plantar reflexology, chiropractic application, and massage. On quality of life assessment, CAM users scored lower than CAM non-users for physical wellbeing (P=0.006); no significant differences emerged for anxiety and depression and coping styles. CAM use is less prevalent in northern Italy than in most other European countries. CAM users were found to have a lower quality of life than CAM non-users.

Predictors of Complementary/Alternative Medicine Use and Intensity of Use Among Men With HIV Infection From Two Geographic Areas in the United States

This descriptive, cross-sectional study explored the factors associated with frequency and intensity of complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) use in 301 HIV-infected men from southern California (n=75) and northern Florida/southern Georgia (n=226). Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify which demographic, biomedical, psychosocial, and health behavior variables (risk and health-promoting behaviors) were predictors of CAM use and intensity of use. The majority (69%) of participants reported CAM use. The types of CAM most frequently cited were dietary supplements (71%) and spiritual therapies (66%). Odds of CAM use increased with more depressive symptoms and more health-promoting behaviors. The odds of CAM use intensity increased with greater symptom frequency and more health-promoting behaviors. Living in California was predictive of both use frequency and intensity of CAM use. High levels of CAM use should alert health care providers to assess CAM use and to incorporate CAM-related patient education into their clinical practices.

A survey amongst Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM) users with type 2 diabetes

This survey studied the different types of Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM) usage, the reasons of CAM usage and the out-of-pocket expenditure incurred by CAM users with Type 2 diabetes. Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional survey that involved 132 Type 2 diabetes patients. Results: A total of 30.2% of the patients used dietary supplements, followed by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) (25.1%) and traditional Malay medicine (17.9%). Two main reasons for using CAM include: the need of patients for more control of their diabetes and also dissatisfaction with conventional medicine. More than half of the patients spent around USD 7.2 to USD 13.9 per month on CAM as an out-of-pocket expenditure. Less than 20% of the patients consult their physicians before using CAM. About 57% of patients stated that their diabetes control did not show any improvement or worsen after CAM usage. Conclusion: CAM was widely used among Type 2 diabetics as an adjunct to their conventional therapy. More than half of the patients found that CAM did not give improvement nor worsens their diabetes control. CAM was one of the alternative treatments considered by Type 2 diabetes patients in complement with the conventional treatment for their diabetes control.

Complementary/alternative medicine use in a pediatric oncology unit in Turkey

Important in the cancer therapy is the increasingly use of complementary/alternative medicine (CAM). The current study aims to establish the extent of use, the types of therapies employed, factors influencing, the reasons for choosing and the cost of CAM used in pediatric cancer patients in our clinic in Ankara, Turkey. A detailed questionnaire regarding demographic data and information about the use of CAM was completed by 95 patients who have attended the clinic between 1999 and 2000. Forty-nine patients (51.6%) had used one or more than one type of CAM. The most frequent (71.4%) was herbal medicine and biologic intake (stinging nettle, plant essence, honey of Anzer). The second one was religious therapy (40.8%). No correlation could be found between the use of CAM and parents education status, the level of income, number of siblings, the prognosis of the disease, the rate of satisfaction with the level of information given by the doctor at the time of diagnosis or the belief in the information given by the doctor about the prognosis (P > 0.05). All patients used CAM in addition to conventional therapy. More than half of the patients used CAM, with stinging nettle being the most common agent. Our patients place a high level of trust in their physicians and the conventional therapies offered by them; however, they also believe that the complementary therapies are harmless and, therefore, worth trying.

The prevalence and determinants of the use of complementary and alternative medicine in adult Turkish cancer patients

A study was undertaken to analyze the extent of using complementary alternative medicine (CAM) and to compare sociodemographic and medical characteristics of users and non-users of CAM in Turkish oncology patients. A total of 615 patients with cancer who attended ambulatory patient care units answered the questionnaires. Medical information was reviewed from chart data. Some 291 patients (47.3%) had used at least one type of CAM since the time of initial diagnosis. CAMs almost always consisted of herbal agents (95%). Nettle (Urticae herba) used in conjunction with (88%) or without (56%) various herbal agents were the most popular and prominent CAMs used by patients. Univariate and multivariate comparisons of users and non-users of CAM were performed. In multivariate analysis, female sex (p=0.0006), high income (p=0.0008), advanced stage at diagnosis (p=0.02), and usage of multiple chemotherapy applications (p=0.03) were determined as independent factors for CAM use.

Use of complementary alternative medicine in patients admitted to internal medicine wards.

To evaluate rate and type of complementary alternative medicine (CAM) use in patients admitted to a medical ward. To identify demographic and disease or treatment-related factors associated with CAM use in these patients. To evaluate the awareness of physicians regarding this practice and whether CAM use had contributed to hospital admission. This study is based on consecutive interviews and chart reviews of 180 patients admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital in Jerusalem, Israel. 29 patients were excluded due to impaired cognitive state and 2 patients refused to participate in the study. Patients were asked questions concerning sociodemographic characteristics and CAM use: type, time, duration of use, causes, outcomes and communication about CAM use with their hospital and family physicians. Information about background diseases, acute diagnoses that led to hospitalization, symptoms on admission, drugs taken at home prior to admission was provided by chart reviews. 26% of patients reported a lifetime history of CAM use and 11% during the month prior to admission. Younger age, higher education and Israeli, USA or European origin was associated with more frequent CAM use. Hospital physicians were informed only about 12% of the CAM courses in the month prior to admission, whereas family physicians were aware of about half of them. No direct or indirect harmful effects of CAM were noticed in this study. No essential changes in the regimen of drugs or other conventional treatments due to CAM use were found. If the condition deteriorated, patients did not defer their visit to hospital because of CAM use. With reservations due to small sample size, it appears that CAM use was not an important factor influencing hospital admissions to a medical ward. Awareness of the hospital physicians regarding CAM use in their patients during the month prior to admission was much lower than that of the family physicians (12% vs. 51.3%).