Complementary and alternative medicines for diabetes mellitus management in ASEAN countries.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to explore complementary or alternative practices used to promote health and reduce complications of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).


METHODS
This qualitative, interpretative study recruited 30 adults including practitioners (n=15) and DM patients (n=15). The participants reside in the northeast of Thailand and in Vientiane of Lao People's Democratic Republic, and they have undergone treatment with at least a kind of complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) for the care and management of DM. They were interviewed about their experiences, and the data were analyzed thematically. The study methodology was informed by hermeneutic phenomenology.


RESULTS
After several years of ineffective treatments, practitioners looked for an alternative to conventional health care to treat patients on long-term antidiabetic drugs, yet the patients suffered from progressive complications. They sought out health care that would more effectively meet their self-perceived needs in treatment particularly of a chronic disease such as DM. The result suggested that CAMs such as acupuncture, massage, exercise, and herbalism were able to meet their requirement in terms of health-care effectiveness obtained from experiences, additional cheap cost and availability in their community, and in accordance with the culture and lifestyles in the context of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) community.


CONCLUSIONS
The study explored and revealed the social perceptions of practitioners and patients using Chinese acupuncture, Thai massage, stretching exercise, and herbalism, as CAMs for DM management. The perceptions attributed to patient-practitioner consensus can hold a key to a more comprehensive health care, as a means to expand the boundaries for contemporary health-care provision. However, more study is needed in the future clinical trial research.
Faculty of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Ubonratchathani Rajabhat University, Meung, Ubonratchathani 34000, Thailand. Electronic address: ganniga10@hotmail.com.
Ganniga
G
Pumthong
Faculty of Nursing, Ubonratchathani Rajabhat University, Meung, Ubonratchathani 34000, Thailand.
Amornrat
A
Nathason
Faculty of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Ubonratchathani Rajabhat University, Meung, Ubonratchathani 34000, Thailand.
Musikorn
M
Tuseewan
Faculty of Nursing, Ubonratchathani Rajabhat University, Meung, Ubonratchathani 34000, Thailand.
Pailin
P
Pinthong
Faculty of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Ubonratchathani Rajabhat University, Meung, Ubonratchathani 34000, Thailand.
Supathra
S
Klangprapun
Faculty of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Ubonratchathani Rajabhat University, Meung, Ubonratchathani 34000, Thailand.
Daracha
D
Thepsuriyanon
Faculty of Nursing, Ubonratchathani Rajabhat University, Meung, Ubonratchathani 34000, Thailand.
Paiwan
P
Kotta
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001210:Asia, Southeastern; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D036301:Qualitative Research
Acupuncture; Complementary and alternative medicine; Diabetic mellitus; Herbalism; Massage; Qualitative research