title: Complementary and alternative medicine use in British Columbia--a survey of HIV positive people on antiretroviral therapy.
abstract: In 2002, the British Columbia (BC) Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS collected final detailed data on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in their HIV treatment program. This cross-sectional study of 682 participants examines types and determinants of CAM use in this program, and examines adverse effects associated with CAM use and antiretroviral therapy (ART). Among the 47% ever CAM users in the included population, vitamins/minerals (81%), meditation/yoga (36%), massage (31%), marijuana (30%), dietary supplements (24%), and herbal medicines (19%), were most commonly used. Multivariate analysis indicated CAM users were less likely to have low education (AOR=0.51), more likely to be unemployed (AOR=1.52), more likely to have been on ART longer (AOR=1.19), and more likely to experience objective, action-requiring (OA) side effects (AOR=1.45). CAM use is common. Both patients and health professionals should be aware of potential toxicities and drug interactions related to the use of CAM and HIV/AIDS treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Care and Epidemiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. shayestadhalla@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Shayesta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dhalla
authors.forename: Keith J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Julio S G
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Montaner
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Hogg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D041743:Herb-Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires