title: The who-when-why triangle of CAM use among Portuguese IBD patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of complementary and alternative medicines is increasing among chronic patients, particularly those afflicted with inflammatory bowel diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to address the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicines use among Portuguese inflammatory bowel diseases' patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were invited to fill an anonymous questionnaire concerning the use of complementary and alternative medicines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-one per cent of the patients reported having used complementary and alternative medicines in the past, whereas 12% were using them by the time the questionnaire was administered. Fifty-nine per cent of the users did not share this information with their physician, whereas 14% and 8% discontinued their medication and periodical examination, respectively. Steroids prescription (OR=2.880) and a higher instruction level (OR=3.669) were predictors of complementary and alternative medicines use in this cohort.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Roughly a third of Portuguese IBD patients had used CAM. Steroid treatment and an academic degree are associated with CAM use. Given the potential side effects and interactions, patient information about the benefits and limitations of conventional and complementary treatments should be reinforced.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Gastrenterologia, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address: fasportela@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Portela
authors.affiliation: CIDES - Department of Health Information and Decision Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal; CINTESIS - Centre for Health Technology and Services Research, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Camila C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department, Centro Hospitalar do Algarve, Portugal.
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caldeira
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Gastrenterologia, Hospital Beatriz Ângelo, Loures, Portugal.
authors.forename: Marilia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cravo
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Gastrenterologia, Hospital Fernandes da Fonseca, Amadora, Portugal.
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deus
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Gastrenterologia, Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department, Centro Hospitalar Porto-Hospital Santo António, Portugal.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lago
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Gastrenterologia, Hospital do Funchal, Funchal, Portugal.
authors.forename: Henrique
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Morna
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Gastrenterologia, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Peixe
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Gastrenterologia, Hospital dos Capuchos, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department, Centro Hospitalar do Algarve, Portugal; Biomedical Sciences and Medicine Department, University of Algarve, Portugal.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Gastrenterologia, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Lurdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Gastrenterologia, Hospital de Santo André, Leria, Portugal.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vasconcelos
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department, Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal; MedInUP - Centre for Drug Discovery and Innovative Medicines, University of Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Magro
authors.affiliation: Serviço Gastrenterologia, Centro Hospitalar de Tondela - Viseu, Viseu, Portugal.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ministro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011174:Portugal; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D013256:Steroids
keywords: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM); Compliance; Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD)