Factors affecting complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in adult diabetic patients: A systematic review using the theoretical domains framework

Background: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is prevalent among chronic diseases like Diabetes mellitus (DM). Therefore, the aim was to study the pattern of CAM use among Type2DM in our set up.Methods: The study was done in diabetic patients attending OPD of Government medical college hospital over a period of 2 months. Patients who gave consent were subjected to a pre-structured questionnaire which consisted of two parts pertaining to socio-demographic profile and CAM usage details.Results: Out of 280 patients enrolled in the study, 110 admitted being CAM users along with conventional Anti-Diabetic treatment. The CAM users were mostly females (56.36%) and were from rural background (70.90%). CAM was prevalent in educated patients (90.90%) more than illiterates (9.09%). Ayurveda (44.54%) was the most common type of CAM used and relatives (58.18%) provided main source of CAM information. 32.72% patients thought that CAM is safe, effective (20.90%) and less costly (19.09%). Only 16.36% patients disclosed regarding their CAM usage to the attending physician while majority (83.63%) were non-revealers. The results suggest that patients should be encouraged to reveal to their physician regarding CAM as it can avoid possibility of interactions.Conclusions: CAM is prevalent in T2DM and more so in females from rural areas. Ayurveda was the most widely type of CAM used and majority of patients did not disclose to the treating physician regarding CAM usage.

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Complementary and alternative medicine use by diabetic patients in rural Bengaluru

International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health ◽

10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20195069 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (11) ◽

pp. 4863

Author(s):

Vidya K. R. ◽

Lohit K.

Keyword(s):

Alternative Medicine ◽

Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽

Rural Area ◽

Health Concern ◽

Diabetic Patients ◽

Complementary And Alternative Medicines ◽

Alternative Medicines ◽

Factors Influencing ◽

Cam Use ◽

Complementary And Alternative

Background: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is common among patients with chronic diseases in developing countries. The rising use of CAM in the management of diabetes is an emerging public health concern given the potential adverse effects, drug interactions and benefits associated with its use. The main objective of this study is to determine the prevalence regarding complementary and alternative medicines among diabetic patients and to assess the perception and factors influencing use of complementary and alternative medicines among diabetic patients.Methods: A community based cross sectional study including diabetic subjects aged more than 18 years was conducted in the rural area of Bengaluru Expecting the prevalence of CAM use to be 67% as with Kumar et al, a minimum of 136 subjects were required to conduct study. Data from 150 diabetic subjects were collected during house to house visit in rural area by using a pre structured questionnaire. Diabetic subjects were randomly selected using multi stage random sampling method.Results: Most of the participants (80%) were aware of CAM and prevalence of CAM use was 54.6%. Significantly the use of CAM was more among females, literates, with diabetic complications and with family history of DM. The common source of information on CAM was friends (45.8%) and neighbors (25.8%). Desire for the quick and additional relief, low cost and easy availability was the prime factors influencing use of complementary and alternative medicines.Conclusions: The prevalence of CAM use among diabetic patients is high. Physicians need to understand CAM better and communicate more with patients.

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