Complementary And Alternative Medicine Use In Patients Research Articles

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

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

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine by Patients Treated for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome, or Systemic Sclerosis in a French Rural Region

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

The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Peritoneal Dialysis Patients at a Second-Level Hospital in Yucatán Mexico.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widely used for multiple reasons such as treatment of diseases and their symptoms, empowerment, self-care, disease prevention, dissatisfaction, adverse effects or cost of conventional medicine, perception of compatibility with beliefs, and idiosyncrasy. This study investigated CAM use in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). A cross-sectional survey study was conducted with 240 eligible patients with CKD in the PD program. By applying the I-CAM-Q-questionnaire, the frequency, level of satisfaction, and reasons for CAM use were explored, and the demographic and clinical data of users and non-users were analyzed. Data analysis included descriptive analysis, Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U, chi-square, and Fisher tests. The main types of CAM used were herbal medicine, and chamomile was the most commonly used. To improve the state of well-being was the main reason for use, the attributable benefit of CAM was high, and only a low percentage of users reported side effects. Only 31.8% of the users informed their physicians. The use of CAM is popular among renal patients, and physicians are not adequately informed; in particular, the CAM type ingested represents a risk for drug interactions and toxicity.

Complementary and alternative medicine application in cancer patients in Iran.

PurposeNowadays, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is used by cancer patients all over the world. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of CAM use in patients with cancer in Iran.MethodsThis descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 320 cancer patients in Arak. For gathering information, a researcher-made questionnaire was used. This questionnaire was consisted of two parts: demographic and clinical information; and patient’s attitude toward using complementary and alternative medicine treatments and their effectiveness, as well as how much they used different kinds of these treatments. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16.ResultsOur findings showed that average age of participants was 55.11 ± 15.58. Most of them had leukemia (25.9%) and underwent chemotherapy (55%), and 141 (44.3%) of individuals were using CAM. Majority of patients (73.2%) were using CAM to improve physical conditions, 61.4% were using it simultaneously with conventional medical treatments, and 25% to reduce pain. Participants have reported visiting holy places, yoga, prayer therapy, and using medicinal plants and special diets, respectively.ConclusionConsidering the high number of patients using CAM treatments, proper planning and implementation to educate professional members of health team, especially doctors and nurses about CAM treatments is essential. The most important CAM treatments to be educated are spiritual therapies, yoga, medicinal plants, and diet therapy. Moreover, support and education about using these kinds of treatment should be considered in the supportive care program for patients with cancer.

Complementary and alternative medicine in sarcoma patients treated in an Italian sarcoma center.

Bone and soft-tissue sarcoma are rare tumors. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is often used in cancer patients however limited data are available in sarcoma patients. The aim of the present study is to explore the use of CAM in patients with bone and soft-tissue sarcoma. Patients in follow-up visit for high grade bone or soft-tissue sarcoma at the Rizzoli outpatient clinic from September 1, 2014, to December 31, 2015, were asked, after written consent, to fill out a questionnaire with items pertaining to sociodemographic factors and their use of CAM before, during, or after chemotherapy. Four hundred and sixty-nine participated to the survey: 409 were adults and 60 were <18 years old. The percentage of use of CAM in adults was 44.7% and in minors 38.3%. The most common type of CAM was vitamins and minerals, followed by phytotherapy and homeopathy. The majority of patients used CAM after the sarcoma diagnosis. None used CAM alone instead of conventional chemotherapy. Benefits from use of CAM were reported by 75% of patients (some benefit in 53% plus high benefit in others 22%) and side effects in 6.7%. A significant correlation was found with CAM use and female gender, young age (18-44) and higher education. Disclosure to the oncologist was 56% and 69% to their family doctors. This study shows that CAM use is frequent among adults and pediatric patients with bone and soft tissue sarcoma as in other cancer patients. Moreover, the profile of these Italian CAM consumers in sarcoma patients is similar to other studies. Patients disclosure to their oncologist or physician about the use of CAM was similar to other Italian studies, but higher compared to other international studies.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Psoriatic Arthritis Patients: a Review.

While complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is prevalent in the general population and is known to be used in systemic rheumatic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, its use in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is less well-studied. The purpose of this review was to identify published data describing the use of CAM in patients with PsA. PsA patients report frequent use of CAM. Diet is believed to affect disease activity, and dietary approaches are used by patients to mitigate symptoms. Dietary supplements have been studied, especially fatty acids, with some positive results. Herbal remedies show promise, but more and better studies are needed, including evaluating medical cannabis. Studies of some the most commonly used CAM, such as acupuncture and massage, are conspicuously absent. CAM use is common among patients with PsA. There is, however, a significant knowledge gap, and there is a critical need for rigorous research to ensure safe and effective use of CAM for these patients.

Prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine use in brain tumor patients at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Objectives:To determine the prevalence and types of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) being utilized and the possible factors that prompted the use of CAM in patients with brain tumors.Methods:The study conducted was a questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study of patients diagnosed with brain tumors at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from January 2011 to May 2018. Patients with primary and secondary brain tumors, were included. Our questionnaire was conducted via phone interviews after obtaining patient consent.Results:A total of 72 patients were included. The mean age of the participants was 45.89 (±16.52) years. We found that education level significantly affected the use of CAM. Fewer users of CAM held bachelor’s degree and patients with lower degrees used CAM more frequently (p=0.027). The most frequent types of CAM were Zamzam (holy water) and Ruqya (Quran reading). Family members were the most frequent source of information about the use of CAM (81.6%).Conclusion:Education level has a significant effect on CAM use. Gender plays a role in the type of CAM used. Future research should focus on the adverse effects of some CAM therapies, how effective CAM therapies are, and the effect CAM may play in delaying patients from seeking medical advice.

Use of complementary and alternative medicine in patients with chronic viral hepatitis in Turkey

IntroductionThe global use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is growing. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of CAM use in patients in Turkey with CVH, the types of therapy, and patients’ sociodemographic characteristics. MethodsThe study was designed as a questionnaire-based, cross-sectional analysis. An infectious diseases outpatient follow-up questionnaire was administered to patients at face-to-face interviews. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS 17 software. ResultsThis study included 588 patients, of whom 27% used CAM. No differences in sociodemographic characteristics were determined between patients using CAM and those not using it. Herbal methods were used by 63.6% of patients and cupping techniques by 25.4%. Education level was significantly correlated with herbal methods (p = 0.043). CAM use also increased in line with disease duration (p < 0.05). No difference in CAM use was determined between CHB patients using oral antiviral therapy and those not using it (p = 0.162). ConclusionCAM use, particularly herbal products, is prevalent among Turkish adults with CVH. In case of use of herbal products in chronic viral hepatitis patients, toxicity and liver failure may develop as a result of herbal product-drug interactions. Physicians in the field of hepatology should, therefore, be aware of potential toxicity of CAM, especially in patients with chronic hepatitis liver diseases.

Health Behavior Change and Complementary Medicine Use: National Health Interview Survey 2012.

Backgroundandobjectives: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use has been associated with preventive health behaviors. However, the role of CAM use in patients’ health behaviors remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the extent to which patients report that CAM use motivates them to make changes to their health behaviors. Materials and Methods: This secondary analysis of 2012 National Health Interview Survey data involved 10,201 CAM users living in the United States who identified up to three CAM therapies most important to their health. Analyses assessed the extent to which participants reported that their CAM use motivated positive health behavior changes, specifically: eating healthier, eating more organic foods, cutting back/stopping drinking alcohol, cutting back/quitting smoking cigarettes, and/or exercising more regularly. Results: Overall, 45.4% of CAM users reported being motivated by CAM to make positive health behavior changes, including exercising more regularly (34.9%), eating healthier (31.4%), eating more organic foods (17.2%), reducing/stopping smoking (16.6% of smokers), or reducing/stopping drinking alcohol (8.7% of drinkers). Individual CAM therapies motivated positive health behavior changes in 22% (massage) to 81% (special diets) of users. People were more likely to report being motivated to change health behaviors if they were: aged 18–64 compared to those aged over 65 years; of female gender; not in a relationship; of Hispanic or Black ethnicity, compared to White; reporting at least college education, compared to people with less than high school education; without health insurance. Conclusions: A sizeable proportion of respondents were motivated by their CAM use to undertake health behavior changes. CAM practices and practitioners could help improve patients’ health behavior and have potentially significant implications for public health and preventive medicine initiatives; this warrants further research attention.

Complementary and alternative medicine use by glioma patients in Switzerland.

During the course of disease, most glioma patients learn that there is no cure for their tumor. It is therefore not uncommon for patients or caregivers to seek complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments. Patterns of CAM use vary across the globe, but little is known about the type of, and motivation for, CAM use in most countries. Here we conducted a cross-sectional survey of CAM use in patients harboring gliomas of World Health Organization (WHO) grades II to IV at 3 specialized neuro-oncology centers in Switzerland. Of 208 patients who returned the survey, approximately half reported having used or using CAM. CAM use was associated with younger age. Patients suffering from WHO grade II gliomas were less likely to indicate CAM use. The leading motivation for CAM use was to contribute actively to the treatment of the disease. CAM use was commonly not counseled or supervised by a health care professional. Cost and issues of reimbursement were not an important factor in the decision against or for CAM use. Physicians caring for glioma patients should be aware of and explore CAM use to better understand patients' attitudes toward their disease, to provide counseling, and to identify potential interactions of CAM with standard treatments for gliomas.

Complementary and alternative medicine practices among type 2 diabetes patients in Pakistan: A qualitative insight

IntroductionComplementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is common in patients with diabetes. The present qualitative study aimed to explore patients’ beliefs and practices related to CAM use in patients with type 2 diabetes living in Lahore, Pakistan. MethodsQualitative one to one in-depth tape-recorded interviews, using a semi-structured guide were performed with patients with type 2 diabetes, from the outpatient departments of two hospitals in Lahore. ResultsThirty two patients were interviewed. Overall, the findings of this study indicated religious practices (n = 12; 37.5%), such as Holy Quran recitations, offering of prayers, drinking holy water and seeking help from God, alongside utilizing conventional therapy were the most frequently reported complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) employed by the majority of the participants. All practices were claimed to have significantly positive impacts on health. The use of herbal therapy (n = 5; 15.6%), home remedies (n = 3; 9.4%) and homeopathic medicine (n = 2; 6.35%) and were the biological forms of CAM reported by most participants. Strong opinion and pressure by the community and family members, compounded by desires to achieve complete cure, were among the key motivators reported for CAM use in approximately one third of the respondents. In addition, poor glycemic control and avoidance of side effects with CAM were the key factors affecting participants’ therapy decision making. ConclusionReligious practices, herbal and household remedies were the main CAM practices observed in this study. Proper understanding of patients’ perspectives towards CAM can help health care professionals adopt a more patient-centred approach, optimize good pharmaceutical care planning and ensure safe practice.

Complementary and alternative medicine use in patients before and after a cancer diagnosis.

Cancer patients are increasingly seeking out complementary and alternative medicine (cam) and might be reluctant to disclose its use to their oncology treatment team. Often, cam agents are not well studied, and little is known about their potential interactions with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or biologic therapies, and their correlations with outcomes. In the present study, we set out to determine the rate of cam use in patients receiving treatment at a Northern Ontario cancer centre. Patients reporting for treatment at the Northeast Cancer Centre (necc) in Sudbury, Ontario, were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire to assess cam use. Changes in cam use before, compared with after, diagnosis were also assessed. Patients in Northern Ontario reported significant cam use both before and after diagnosis. However, as a function of the cam type, cam use was greatly enhanced after cancer diagnosis. For example, the number of patients who reported use of biologic products increased to 51.8% after a cancer diagnosis from 15.6% before a cancer diagnosis. Patients reported much smaller changes in the use of alternative medical systems or spiritual therapy after diagnosis. Vitamin use was reported by 66% of respondents, and the number of different cams used correlated significantly with the reported number of vitamins used. Use of cam, particularly biologic products, increased significantly after a cancer diagnosis. Further studies are required to examine the effect of cam use on the efficacy and safety of cancer therapies.

The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Is Less Frequent in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Than in Patients with Other Chronic Gastrointestinal Disorders.

Background and Aims Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is commonly used among patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), but evidence about its real-life use is limited. We aimed to assess and compare CAM use in outpatients with IBD and other gastrointestinal diseases. Materials and Methods The use of herbs and botanicals, lifestyle modifications and mind/body therapies, patient satisfaction, and continuous use of conventional medicine were assessed with an anonymous questionnaire at a tertiary IBD unit in Hungary. 396 IBD patients (207 with Crohn's disease, 185 with ulcerative colitis, and 4 with indeterminate colitis) and 164 patients with gastric acid-related diseases, premalignant and malignant colorectal diseases, lactose intolerance, celiac disease, dysbacteriosis, and so on were included. Results IBD patients reported significantly lower usage of herbs than did controls (25% versus 42%, p < 0.001). More than 90% of responding IBD patients continued conventional medication besides herbal remedies (83% in unaltered doses). IBD patients were more likely to implement lifestyle modifications (77% versus 63%, p = 0.0011), but not body/mind therapies (20% versus 15%, p = 0.1516). Younger age was a significant predictor of lifestyle modifications (p = 0.0246). Conclusions CAM use (especially that of herbal remedies) in IBD is less frequent than that in other gastrointestinal diseases. It is more a complementary than an alternative to conventional medicine in IBD. There is no significant difference between CAM use in patients with Crohn's disease and that in patients with ulcerative colitis, although the latter tend to choose herbs; the benefit of which is supported by scientific evidence. This study is registered at the Medical Research Council, Hungary. This trial is registered with 3769/2010/1018EKU.

Role of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Otolaryngologic Perioperative Care.

During the perioperative period for otolaryngologic surgical cases, complications and delays can occur as the result of anxiety, pain, nausea, and vomiting. Conventional methods used to treat these symptoms include medications that can be expensive and invasive or that can cause adverse effects. Because of the concerns about opioid use in the United States, providers might want to consider using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as adjunctive or primary treatment plans. To assess the current knowledge about the clinical effectiveness of CAM for patients undergoing otolaryngologic procedures, we searched the literature using MEDLINE, PubMed, and Google Scholar. We excluded studies published prior to 1990 and articles about surgeries that were unrelated to otolaryngology. An analysis of the selected studies revealed that CAM therapies-acupuncture, aromatherapy, hypnosis, and music therapy-have been shown to be effective at reducing preoperative anxiety, postoperative pain, and postoperative nausea and vomiting. No adverse side effects were associated with CAM use in these studies. The use of CAM in patients undergoing otolaryngologic surgeries may relieve common perioperative symptoms. While further study is warranted, otolaryngology providers might consider implementing CAM with patients electing surgery.

Perception and use of complementary and alternative medicine for low back pain.

To determine the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in patients with low back pain (LBP) and to identify its correlation with demographic factors, clinical condition and psychosocial factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 278 LBP patients. Use of CAM, demographic parameters and disease duration were determined. Self-reported health status and self-rated scales assessed the effect of disease on quality of life and emotional well-being, respectively. Satisfaction with orthopaedic care and belief partiality towards CAM were assessed. In all, 72.3% patients sought CAM treatment. The most common choice of CAM was traditional Chinese medicine (TCM; n = 166), followed by massage therapy ( n = 114) and chiropractic treatment ( n = 45). Within TCM, acupuncture was the most popular treatment for LBP ( n = 127). Only 32.5% patients informed their doctors of their CAM use. In univariate analyses, factors positively associated with CAM use included duration of LBP (odds ratio (OR) = 1.45, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06-1.97), use of CAM in close social circles (OR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.15-3.43) and summary score for belief partiality towards CAM (OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.13-1.23). Variables negatively and significantly associated with status of CAM use include age (OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.95-0.99) and summary score for satisfaction with orthopaedic care (OR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.88-0.99). CAM use in patients with LBP is prevalent and largely unknown to their doctors. Personal beliefs and their satisfaction with conventional medical treatment both play a part in their decisions to use CAM. Future studies may aim at understanding the effect of CAM on patient adherence to conventional medical treatment and patients' perception of well-being and pain.

High prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine use among patients with sickle cell disease in a tertiary hospital in Lagos, South West, Nigeria

BackgroundAttention and interest in the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been reignited globally, most especially in patients with chronic diseases. Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of such chronic diseases associated with devastating clinical and psychosocial consequences, thus leading those affected to seek alternative treatment apart from orthodox medicine. Hence, this study aimed to determine the prevalence, pattern and tolerability of the use of CAM in patients with SCD in the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).MethodsThis was a cross-sectional survey of 200 respondents with SCD attending the hematology clinics of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital over a period of 3 months. Data on socio-demographic characteristic, clinical profile, the types and sources of CAM used were collected using a well structured pretested questionnaire. The data obtained were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS®) version 17.ResultOf the 200 patients who participated in the study, 113; 56.5% were males and 87; 43.5% were females. Majority of the SCD patients were 1–10 years old and their mean age was 18.8 ± 14.39 years. CAM was reportedly used by 88.5% of the respondents. Biological (herbal) products 156; 62.9% were the most commonly used CAM, followed by alternative medical systems 52; 20.9% and mind-body interventions 30; 12.1%. Relations, friends and neighbors influenced 85.2% of CAM users by recommending CAM to them. Tolerability of CAM was perceived to be excellent as only 33 (18.6%) of the respondents abandoned the use of CAM. Comparing CAM users and CAM non-users, there was no statistical significant difference in the proportion of those >18 years (45.76% vs 52.17%; p = 0.658), those who experienced two or more crises (51.41% vs 34.78%; p = 0.183), and those with stable haemoglobin concentration of >7 g/dL (15.81% vs 8.69%; p = 0.539) More patients among CAM non-users (91.30%) significantly spend over 3000 Naira (USD 15) per month on medicine than CAM users (4.51%) (p < 0.001).ConclusionCAM use is highly prevalent among adults with sickle cell diseases in Nigeria. CAM is well tolerated and relatively affordable by these patients. Clinician awareness and understanding of the factors influencing the use of CAM and the potential herbal-orthodox medicine interaction are crucial during hospital treatment of these patients.

The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine is Frequent in Patients With Pancreatic Disorders.

Herbal remedies and other complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are used by 30% of the patients with liver and inflammatory bowel diseases. However, there are no data regarding CAM use in patients with pancreatic disorders, including potential pancreatotoxicity. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of CAM use in patients with pancreatic disorders and screen for pancreatotoxicity. This was a cross-sectional survey of consecutive outpatients seen at a Pancreas Center. Data were collected in a specific questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the prevalence and the patterns of CAM use. Characteristics associated with CAM use were analyzed by appropriate statistics. Of 108 patients (52% male; mean age, 65±13 years), 47 (43.5%) used CAM. The use of CAM was more frequent among patients with previous acute pancreatitis (47%). Reported reasons for the use of CAM were to help standard therapies and for an overall better feeling. About 61% of the patients reported advantages with treatment. As compared with nonusers, CAM users were more often female (55% vs. 42%), with a higher school degree (43% vs. 36%), more frequently performing physical activity (51% vs. 41%), and reporting anxiety (45% vs. 31%). However, none of these differences were statistically significant. Three patients with previous acute pancreatitis reported the use of Serenoa repens that is potentially pancreatotoxic. The rate of CAM use in patients with pancreatic disorders is similar to those reported for other digestive diseases. CAM use seems to be more frequent in women with a higher education level and a "healthier lifestyle." Patients might not be aware of the potential pancreatotoxicity of CAM, which should be carefully considered by physicians.

Use of complementary and alternative medicine among Thai patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

ObjectivePatients with diabetes commonly use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Little is known about types and factors related to CAM use in patients with diabetes in Thailand. This study aimed to examine types and factors that were associated with CAM use in Thai diabetic patients. MethodsA cross-sectional study of diabetic patients being treated in four primary healthcare units and two secondary hospitals in the north of Thailand was conducted. A questionnaire was used to collect data. Frequency, percentage, and Chi-square test were used to describe or analyze data. ResultsThe three most common types of CAM used by samples were Daode Xinxi (a modified version of Taichi), prayer and meditation. Women were more likely to use CAM than men (χ2=5.038, P=0.018). Patients aged between 40 and 69 years were more likely to use CAM than those aged younger than 40 or older than 69 years (χ2=11.041, P=0.026). Farmers were more likely to use CAM than those with other careers (χ2=19.248, P=0.007). Diabetes patients whose time since diagnosis was between 1 and 10 years were more likely to use CAM than those with a longer elapsed time since diagnosis (χ2 = 8.407, P = 0.038). Marital status, religion, education, health insurance type and conventional treatment approaches were not associated with CAM use in diabetic patients. ConclusionThe most common type of CAM used by Thai patients with diabetes was mind and body practice. CAM use was significantly associated with gender, age, career and duration of diabetes. However, marital status, religion, education, health insurance types and conventional regimen for diabetics were not associated with CAM use.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use and Its Association with Quality of Life among Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy in Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background. Today, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is being routinely practiced by cancer patients worldwide. This study aimed at examining the prevalence of CAM use in patients with cancer and comparing the quality of life (QoL) in CAM users and nonusers. Methods. A cross-sectional study was employed on 195 cancer patients receiving chemotherapy at Gondar University Referral Hospital (GURH) chemotherapy center. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used and the collected data were analyzed by the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 21.0 for Windows. Results. 154 (79%) patients were found to be users of CAM. Educational status, average monthly income, disease stage, and comorbidity were strong predictors of use of CAM. The most commonly utilized types of CAM were traditional herbal based medicine (72.1%) and only 20.8% of patients discuss with their doctors CAM use. No significant difference was found in QoL between CAM users and nonusers except in financial difficulties (p = 0.020). Conclusions. This study revealed a high rate of CAM use with very low disclosure rate to their health care providers. Health care providers should be open to discuss the use of CAM with their patients as it will lead to better health outcome.

Complementary and alternative medicine usage in patients for different ailments in rural region of Malwa area of Punjab: A cross-sectional study

Background: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has increased steadily over the past 10-15 years and has gained medical, economic, and sociological importance. The prevalence of CAM use in patients is frequently high and estimated to be from 30% to 90% as reported in the literature. However, such usage data are missing in Indian population and that too based in rural area. Aims and Objectives: Our study aims to explore prevalence, pattern of use, and predictors of CAM and patients perceptions in various chronic diseases in rural populations. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional, 6 months survey enrolling 350 patients was conducted at Community Health Centre, located in village Badal, in Malwa region of Punjab, for 6-month period (July-December 15). Data collection was done in two parts: (a) Demographic details and (b) conventional treatment details. A questionnaire based on the International Questionnaire to Measure Use of CAM, developed by National Research Centre in CAM of the University of Tromso, Norway, which aims to internationally assess the use of CAM. Results: Out of total of 346 patients recruited, 200 confirmed of CAM usage and 146 denied of any CAM therapy and were labeled as a nonuser group. Male predominance. Uneducated farmers below the poverty line were the dominant category who went for CAM as an ailment curing therapy, indicating education and poverty as one of the major predictors in our study. Hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, dermatology, and patients of diseases with longer duration more frequently practiced CAM. Hiding the therapies from treating physician was reported 58%. Homeopathic and ayurvedic therapies were famous in our rural population. All the results were compared in user and non-user groups. Conclusion: CAM usage to such an extent is alarming. No previous reports of CAM use in the rural population of Malwa region are documented. This increasing trends worldwide are making CAM history essential component of treatments for all common specially chronic diseases. So, our study is one of the first efforts to make CAM history an integral part of usual case history in our rural setup.