title: Usage of Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T & CM): Prevalence, Practice and Perception among Post Stroke Patients Attending Conventional Stroke Rehabilitation in A Teaching Hospital in Malaysia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The lack of evidence that proves the benefit of traditional and complementary medicines (T & CM) in treating chronic medical conditions does not deter its usage among patients worldwide. Prevalence of usage among post-stroke patients in Malaysia especially is unknown. This study aims to determine the prevalence, practice and perception of T & CM use among stroke survivors attending an outpatient rehabilitation program in a teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted among 104 post stroke patients attending an outpatient rehabilitation program. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic and clinical profile of patients, as well as types of therapy used and perception on T & CM usage. Descriptive analysis was done, and bivariate analysis was used to determine associations between categorical data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age of patients was 62 years (SD 12.2), 54% were Chinese and 75% of the patients had ischaemic stroke. Mean age of T & CM users was younger compared to non- T & CM users (61 years vs. 66 years, p=0.04). Two-thirds (66%) of patients admitted to concurrent T & CM usage while attending conventional post stroke rehabilitation. Acupuncture (40.4%), massage (40.4%) and traditional Chinese medicine (11.5%) were the most common T & CM used. Positive perception was recorded in terms of ability of T & CM usage to relieve post stroke symptoms (68%), and it was safe to use because it was made from 'natural sources'. Negative perception recorded: T & CM caused significant adverse effects (57.6%) and was not safe to be used in combination with other conventional medicines (62.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Concurrent T & CM usage among post-stroke patients attending structured outpatient rehabilitation program is widely practised especially acupuncture, massage and traditional Chinese medicines. Overall the perception towards its use is favourable.
authors.affiliation: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia. phere1@gmail.com.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia.
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Abdul Aziz
authors.affiliation: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Rashid
authors.affiliation: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Che Man
authors.affiliation: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Faculty of Medicine, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Amir
authors.affiliation: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Faculty of Medicine, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Faculty of Medicine, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia.
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Ramli
authors.affiliation: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Faculty of Medicine, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia.
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Zainal Abidin