Use of complementary medicine amongst hypertensive patients in a public primary care clinic in Ipoh.
The use and reasons for use of Complementary Medicine (CM) amongst hypertensive patients attending the Hypertension/ Diabetes/ Asthma Clinic in Greentown Health Clinic, Ipoh was assessed. One hundred and twenty patients were selected by systematic random sampling (1:5) over a 2-week period commencing 26/04/04. Data was obtained from interviews, questionnaires and medical records. Twenty seven percent were on CM. Most commonly used CM was herbal medicine. Majority of those using CM for BP control were Malays. The Chinese and Indians were using CM mainly for other health problems. Ninety six percent were using both CM and conventional therapy concurrently. Therefore doctors should enquire about CM usage during patient assessment to prevent possible drug interactions.
Department of Primary Care & Public Health, Royal College of Medicine Perak, 3 Jalan Greentown, 30450 Ipoh, Perak.
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Mahfudz
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Chan
D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires