Use of complementary and alternative medicine among patients with chronic diseases at outpatient clinics.
OBJECTIVE
The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the use of complementary and alternative medicine among patients with chronic diseases at outpatient clinics. Another aim was to identify demographic and socio-economic factors that are associated with CAM use.


METHODS
Face-to-face interviews of conveniently selected patients with chronic diseases were conducted in outpatient clinics of a general hospital. A validated data collection form was used to gather the information regarding pattern, perception, reasons, and perceived effect of CAM on the disease state. The other relevant information including demographics, diagnosis, indication, and treatment were collected from the patients' medical records.


RESULTS
Out of 321 patients interviewed in this study, 205 patients were using some form of CAM, and thus the utilisation rate was 63.9%. A significant number of patients (35.5%) were using CAM for diabetes mellitus. Thirteen types of CAM were identified in the study with the most common being vitamins supplements (48.2%), herbal medicines (26.4%), ginseng (4.7%) and traditional Chinese medicine (4.0%). The patients with higher education level, higher income, and aged more than 50 years were independently associated with CAM use. Majority of the patients (77.6%) reported that their condition had improved by using CAM.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study confirms the high frequency of CAM use among patients with chronic diseases in a Malaysian public hospital. The popularity of CAM indicated the patients' preference towards holistic approach to health care.
Hasan
Syed Shahzad
SS
School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. shahzad_hasan@imu.edu.my
Ahmed
Syed Imran
SI
Bukhari
Nadeem Irfan
NI
Loon
William Cheah Wei
WC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods; D002908:Chronic Disease; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003625:Data Collection; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
D014815:Vitamins