Pattern and frequency of use of complementary and alternative medicine among patients with epilepsy in the midwestern United States.
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is recognized to be commonly used by patients, yet there have been few studies regarding the scope of CAM use by patients with epilepsy. This study assessed usage and perceptions of CAM by patients with epilepsy in the midwest of the United States. A 25-item survey was administered to adult patients with epilepsy, and data were collected from 228 patients. The survey collected demographics, specific CAM usage, adverse effects of CAM therapy, and perceptions of the effectiveness of CAM. Thirty-nine percent reported using CAM; 25% reported using CAM specifically for their epilepsy. Prayer/spirituality was the most commonly used form of CAM (46%), followed by "mega" vitamins (25%), chiropractic care (24%), and stress management (16%). CAM use is common among midwestern patients with epilepsy, although the pattern of use may be slightly different than in other regions of the United States and elsewhere.
Liow
Kore
K
Via Christi Comprehensive Epilepsy Center and Neurophysiology Laboratory, Wichita, KS, USA.
Ablah
Elizabeth
E
Nguyen
John C
JC
Sadler
Toni
T
Wolfe
Deborah
D
Tran
Ky-Dieu
KD
Guo
Lisa
L
Hoang
Tina
T
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003625:Data Collection; D004493:Education; D004651:Employment; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007615:Kansas / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D015146:Midwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D009974:Orthomolecular Therapy; D012640:Seizures / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D026443:Spiritual Therapies
D000927:Anticonvulsants