Complementary alternative medicine in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: use and attitudes.
BACKGROUND
A widespread increase in the use of complementary alternative medicine (CAM) by patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been recognized. The aim of our study was to evaluate both the extent and the determinants of CAM use by outpatients with IBD.


METHODS
Outpatients of the IBD centre at the University Hospital of Berne and patients of two gastroenterology private practices in Olten (Switzerland) completed a mailed self-administrated questionnaire regarding alternative medicine. The questionnaire addressed the following topics: demographic variables; disease-related data; the use of 16 types of complementary medicine; comparison between attitudes towards alternative versus conventional medicine and out-of pocket expenses.


RESULTS
Alternative medicine has been used by 47% of the patients. Diagnosis, duration and activity of disease, gender, age, previous surgery were not predictive for the use of CAM. The most commonly used CAM methods were: homeopathy, acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine. Reasons cited for the use of CAM were: lack of satisfaction with and side effects of conventional therapy and the perceived safety of CAM. Sixty-one percent of patients noted that their IBD had improved with the use of CAM. By contrast, 16% noted a flare during CAM therapies. Forty-seven percent of patients paid more than Euro400 per year for CAM.


CONCLUSIONS
Complementary medicine use is common in patients with IBD. Frequently cited reasons for the use of complementary therapies were safety of CAM; dissatisfaction with conventional therapies, including their side effects; and that CAM can be used in addition to conventional therapy.
Inselspital Bern, Division of Gastroenterology, Bern, Switzerland.
C
C
Quattropani
B
B
Ausfeld
A
A
Straumann
P
P
Heer
F
F
Seibold
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D005762:Gastroenterology; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011331:Private Practice; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents