title: Use of complementary and alternative medicine in Swedish patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a controlled study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is an increasing interest in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in patients with chronic diseases, including those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Patients may turn to CAM when conventional therapies are inadequate or associated with side effects for symptomatic relief or to regain control over their disease. The objectives were to explore CAM use and perceived effects in IBD patients in comparison with a control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional, multicenter, controlled study was carried out. IBD patients were invited from 12 IBD clinics in Sweden. Controls were selected randomly from a residence registry. A study-specific questionnaire was used for data collection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 48.3% of patients with IBD had used some kind of CAM during the past year compared with 53.5% in controls (P=0.025, adjusted for age, sex, geographic residence, and diet). The most frequently used CAM among IBD patients was massage (21.3%), versus controls (31.4%) (adjusted P=0.0003). The second most used CAM was natural products, 18.7% in IBD patients versus 22.3% of the controls (unadjusted P=0.018). In all, 83.1% of the patients experienced positive effects from CAM and 14.4% experienced negative effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, 48.3% of Swedish IBD patients used some kind of CAM and controls used CAM significantly more. Natural products were used by one-fifth of the patients and even more by controls. This is notable from a patient safety perspective considering the possible risks of interactions with conventional medication. In all, 40% of the patients reported adverse events from conventional medicine. Patients experienced predominantly positive effects from CAM, and so did controls.
authors.affiliation: aDepartment of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Nursing bDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Danderyd Hospital cCenter for Digestive Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital dDepartment of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet eDepartment of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet fStockholm GastroCenter gSophiahemmet University, Stockholm hInstitute of Health and Care Sciences, the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg iDepartment of Medicine, Geriatrics and Emergency, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/East Hospital, Gothenburg jDepartment of Gastroenterology, Skane University Hospital, Lund kFaculty of Medicine and Health, School of Health and Medical Sciences, Örebro University and Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Oxelmark
authors.forename: Annelie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lindberg
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Löfberg
authors.forename: Berit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sternby
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Almer
authors.forename: Ragnar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Befrits
authors.forename: Bjöörn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fossum
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Karlén
authors.forename: Olle
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Broström
authors.forename: Curt
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tysk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000379:methods; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013548:Sweden; D055815:Young Adult