scholarly journals Prevalence and Correlates of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use among Hypertensive Patients in Gondar Town, Ethiopia

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Asfaw Erku ◽  
Abebe Basazn Mekuria

Background. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies are being widely used by hypertensive patients worldwide. However, evidences regarding CAM use by hypertensive patients in Ethiopia are limited. This study aimed at assessing prevalence and correlates of CAM use among hypertensive patients attending ambulatory clinic at Gondar University Referral Hospital (GURH), Ethiopia.Methods. A cross-sectional study was employed on 423 patients visiting GURH. Descriptive statistics and bivariate and multivariate logistic regression tools were used to analyze/come up with the prevalence and correlates of CAM use.Results. The prevalence of CAM use in our study was found to be 67.8% and herbal based medicine was the most commonly utilized CAM therapies. Majority of CAM users (70.2%) did not disclose CAM use for their physician. However, nearly half of CAM users (48.4%) were satisfied with the result of CAM use.Conclusions. The higher prevalence of CAM use among hypertensive patients coupled with a very low disclosure rate to their health care providers can have a marked potential to cause ineffective hypertensive management and adverse effects due to CAM use. Health care providers should be open to discussing the use of CAM with their patients as it will lead to better health outcome.

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Naja ◽  
M. Alameddine ◽  
L. Itani ◽  
H. Shoaib ◽  
D. Hariri ◽  
...  

Objective. To examine the prevalence and correlates of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) use in Lebanon.Methods. A cross-sectional survey was conducted through face to face interviews on a nationally representative sample of 1,475 Lebanese adults. The survey questionnaire explored the sociodemographic and health related characteristics as well as the types and modes of CAM use. The main outcome in this study was the use of CAM during the last 12 months.Results. Prevalence of CAM use was 29.87% with “folk herbs” being the most commonly used (75%). Two out of five CAM users indicated using it as alternative to conventional therapies and only 28.4% of users disclosed the use of CAM to their physician. CAM use was significantly associated with higher income, presence of a chronic disease, and lack of access to needed health care. Lower odds of CAM use were observed among older adults and those with a higher education level.Conclusions. This study revealed a high prevalence of CAM use in Lebanon. Health policy and decision makers need to facilitate proper regulation and integration of CAM into mainstream medicine and educate health care providers and the public alike on the safe and effective use of CAM therapies.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nesrin N. Abu-Baker ◽  
Christine Savage ◽  
Basil H. Amarneh

BACKGROUND: Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is a group of medical products and practices that are not part of conventional medicine.METHOD: The aims of this study were to identify the strategies of managing minor illnesses, perceptions and significant predictors of using CAM among Jordanian parents. A cross-sectional descriptive design was used. The study was conducted in ten Ministry of Health comprehensive health centers in Jordan. A convenience sample of 328 participants was recruited and asked to complete a self-report structured questionnaire.RESULTS: Over 80% of study participants used CAM to treat minor illness for their children. Digestive system problems, upper respiratory tract infection, and urinary tract infection were the most common managed illnesses. Herbs, prayer, and aromatherapy were the most common types of CAM therapy. The most common reasons for using CAM were making the child comfortable, supporting medical treatment, and promoting health and preventing disease. The major sources of advice were self, mother or mother in law, and friend. 72% of CAM users reported that they always consulted their health care providers about CAM use. More than 60% of the study sample perceived CAM as complementary, safe, and efficient. Finally, CAM belief, father’s education, and living with extended family significantly predicted CAM use.CONCLUSION: Health care providers in general should be able to assess CAM use, provide accurate health education and encourage parents to consult their health care providers about CAM use.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yara Quzmar ◽  
Zeina Istiatieh ◽  
Hala Nabulsi ◽  
Sa’ed H. Zyoud ◽  
Samah W. Al-Jabi

Abstract Background The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasing worldwide. To the best of knowledge, there is a lack of studies that assess CAM use by Palestinian women during pregnancy. This research aims to determine the prevalence of Palestinian women’s use of CAM during pregnancy, the most frequently used CAM products during the pregnancy period, the main sources that encourage the use of CAM among pregnant women, and the causes of CAM use. Methods A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in Palestine using a questionnaire from April 2018 to March 2019. The samples were selected by convenience sampling, including currently pregnant or previously pregnant women in the Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN) clinic at Rafedia Hospital and in primary health care clinics in Nablus city-Palestine. The questionnaire covered socio-demographic variables, health status, types and frequency of CAM used, patients’ sources of information, causes of their usage, attitudes, and beliefs. Results Four hundred currently or previously pregnant women participated. Three hundred fifty-five (91.5%) used at least one method of CAM during pregnancy. Most women used at least one method of biologically-based therapies during pregnancy (87.7%). One hundred and one pregnant women (26.7%) utilised at least one type of herb during pregnancy. The most-reported herb used by 12.3% of participants was anise. Of the mind-body therapies, prayer was the most commonly used method during pregnancy (8.3%). Two hundred and sixty-one (65.3%) participants used CAM because they believed CAM was not harmful to them or their babies during pregnancy. Participants gained most of their information about CAM from their families (43.8%) and friends (24.3%). Approximately two-thirds of participants (64.0%) thought that obstetricians should be able to advise on commonly used CAM. Conclusions During pregnancy, CAM products are commonly used, and it is important to determine what types are being used by women in Palestine. These findings supplement the body of knowledge on the use of CAM by pregnant women. Pregnancy care providers need to be aware to the familiar types of CAM that women use.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Asfaw Erku

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.


2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
W.G. Elder ◽  
Carol Hustedde ◽  
Dave Rakel ◽  
Jennifer Joyce

Enhancing the professionalism of graduates is a major objective of most health care education institutions today. Educating conventional health care providers about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) may directly and indirectly improve trainee professionalism by expanding trainees' knowledge and appreciation of diverse health care beliefs and practices, improving physician—patient communication, enhancing self-care, and increasing sense of competence and job satisfaction. A survey based on professional competencies proposed by the Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine was administered to the grantees of the National Institutes of Health, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine R-25 CAM education project initiative. The survey's aim was to identify project activities that taught professionalism skills. All projects reported curricular features that enhanced trainee professionalism, with substantial percentages of project effort directed toward professionalism-related activities.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ijeoma Okoronkwo ◽  
Jane-lovena Onyia-pat ◽  
Pat Okpala ◽  
Mary-Ann Agbo ◽  
Afam Ndu

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is now on the increase. Evidence from studies carried out globally has established that CAM use is very common and varies among populations. This study investigated patterns of CAM use, perceived benefits, and associated harm with CAM use among adults. A cross-sectional study was conducted in three local government areas of Enugu urban, Southeast Nigeria. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from all consenting adult participants aged between 18 and 65 years. Of the 732 participants interviewed, 62.8% were females while 37.2% were males. Majority (84.7%) of the participants had used CAM at one time or another. The most commonly used CAM product was the biological products, followed by spiritual therapy. The major route of administration for CAM products was oral and about 40% of the participants combined CAM with conventional medicine. Majority (78.6%) of CAM users benefited from CAM products after using them while a few complained of adverse reactions. As CAM is gaining widespread acceptance and use, there is need for clinical trial on the benefits and adverse effects associated with the use of CAM to facilitate proof of efficacy and safety of the products.


2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 118-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefanus Gunawan ◽  
Marijn Arnoldussen ◽  
Maartje S. Gordijn ◽  
Mei N. Sitaresmi ◽  
Peter M. van de Ven ◽  
...  

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