“It keeps me going” – older people's perception of well‐being and use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)

Abstract BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic lockdown has had a profound impact on physical and mental well-being throughout the world. Previous studies have revealed that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is frequently used for, and can be potential beneficial for strengthening physical mental resilience. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the prevalence, associations and reasons for use of CAM during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic among a representative sample of the Norwegian population, and determine possible effects and adverse effects of the treatments. MethodsComputer assisted telephone interviews using a COVID-adapted I-CAM-Q questionnaire were conducted with 1008 randomly selected Norwegians aged 16 and above using multistage sampling during April and May 2020 applying age and sex quotas for each area. Descriptive statistics were carried out using Pearson’s Chi-square test, Fisher exact test, and Independent samples T-tests to identify group differences. ResultsThe study revealed that two thirds of the respondents (67%) had used CAM within the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular CAM modalities that did not involve a provider. Most used were natural remedies and dietary supplement (57%, mainly vitamins and minerals), but self-help practices like yoga and meditation were also widely used (24%). Women used CAM modalities significantly more than men (77% vs. 58%). Most of the respondents found the modalities they used beneficial, and 5% reported adverse effects of the treatments.ConclusionsThe first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has not profoundly changed the overall need of Norwegian citizens to seek care outside the conventional healthcare system, but rather caused a shift in the type of CAM modalities used. The risk profile of these modalities was generally low as only 5 % of the respondents reported adverse effects. Further studies are needed to confirm the change from provider based to self-administered CAM use.

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Prevalence and Correlates of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use among Patients with Lung Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study in Beirut, Lebanon

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2017/8434697 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Farah Naja ◽

Bilal Anouti ◽

Hibeh Shatila ◽

Reem Akel ◽

Yolla Haibe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

Alternative Medicine ◽

Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Well Being ◽

Open Communication ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Lung Cancer Patients ◽

Cam Use ◽

Complementary And Alternative

Patients with lung cancer are increasingly seeking complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to improve their physiological and psychological well-being. This study aimed to assess CAM use among lung cancer patients in Lebanon. Using a cross-sectional design, 150 lung cancer patients attending the Basile Cancer Institute at the American University of Beirut Medical Center were interviewed. Participants completed a questionnaire addressing sociodemographic characteristics, lung cancer condition, and use of CAM. The main outcome of interest was “use of any CAM therapy since diagnosis.” Prevalence of CAM use was 41%. The most commonly used CAM modality among study participants was “dietary supplements/special foods.” Results of the multiple logistic regression analyses showed that CAM use was positively associated with Lebanese nationality and paying for treatment out of pocket and was negatively associated with unemployment and having other chronic diseases. About 10% of patients used CAM on an alternative base, 58% did not disclose CAM use to their physician, and only 2% cited health professionals as influencing their choice of CAM. This study revealed a prevalent CAM use among lung cancer patients in Lebanon, with a marginal role for physicians in guiding this use. Promoting an open-communication and a patient-centered approach regarding CAM use is warranted.

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Informed Consent, Shared Decision-Making, and Complementary and Alternative Medicine

The Journal of Law Medicine & Ethics ◽

10.1111/j.1748-720x.2003.tb00085.x ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 31 (2) ◽

pp. 247-250 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Jeremy Sugarman

Keyword(s):

Informed Consent ◽

Alternative Medicine ◽

Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽

Well Being ◽

Published Data ◽

Office Visits ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Important Health ◽

Health Related ◽

Complementary And Alternative

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is used by many in hopes of achieving important health-related goals. Survey data indicate that 42 percent of the U.S. population uses CAM, accounting for 629 million “office” visits a year and expenditures of 27 billion dollars. This high prevalence of use calls for a careful evaluation of CAM so as to ensure the well-being of those using its modalities. Such an evaluation would obviously include assessments of the safety and efficacy of particular approaches, the training and integrity of practitioners, and the appropriateness of modalities for different conditions or uses. Given the lack of published data concerning many of these aspects of CAM, the likely unfamiliarity of its practitioners to the approaches available to clinicians practicing modern scientific medcine, and the need to respect the unique preferences of persons seeking assistance with achieving health-related goals, it is also important to assess the potential roles of informed consent for the use of CAM. Examining such roles is the central task of this paper.

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Complementary and alternative medicine use among infertile women attending infertility specialty clinics in South Korea: does perceived severity matter?

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1186/s12906-019-2727-x ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jung Hye Hwang ◽

Yi Young Kim ◽

Hyea Bin Im ◽

Dongwoon Han

Keyword(s):

Alternative Medicine ◽

Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽

Conventional Treatment ◽

Well Being ◽

Infertility Treatment ◽

Clinical Effects ◽

Perceived Severity ◽

Infertile Women ◽

Cam Use ◽

Complementary And Alternative

Abstract Background Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among infertile women is popular in many countries, including Korea. Previous research has repeatedly found more than half of infertile women surveyed use CAM therapies for fertility enhancement and overall well-being. However, there is currently little evidence to support this practice, and this raises the question of infertile women’s experiences in the uptake of those modalities and sociodemographic and psychological factors associated with CAM use. Thus, this study aims to explore the perceptions and experiences of infertile women with regard to their use of CAM in Korea. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from 263 infertile women attending infertility specialty clinics in Seoul, Korea, in June 2012. The survey instrument included 47 questions on the use of CAM, demographic characteristics, health status, and infertility related factors such as duration and type of infertility, experience and satisfaction of conventional treatment, and self-perceived severity of infertility condition. Chi-square test and logistic regression were used for data analysis. Results Among 286 respondents (response rate, 95.3%), a total of 263 women were included in the final analysis. 63.5% of respondents used one or more types of CAM modalities during infertility treatment. The utilization of CAM was associated with employment status, duration of infertility treatment, and self-perceived severity of the disease. The most commonly used CAM modalities were multivitamin and herbal medicine, and differences in types of CAM modalities used were found between the group with a higher rating of self-perceived disease severity and the lower perceived severity group. Conclusions High prevalence of CAM use among infertile women was observed in Korea. Our findings support that infertile women’s own understanding of their illness and physical condition influences self-care behavior such as CAM use. This calls for an urgent need for further in-depth study of the clinical effects of popular CAM modalities among infertile women when used in conjunction with conventional treatment.

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Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among People with Multiple Sclerosis in the Nordic Countries

Autoimmune Diseases ◽

10.1155/2012/841085 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-13 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

L. Skovgaard ◽

P. H. Nicolajsen ◽

E. Pedersen ◽

M. Kant ◽

S. Fredrikson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Alternative Medicine ◽

Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽

Large Range ◽

Well Being ◽

Nordic Countries ◽

The Body ◽

Disease Modifying ◽

Treatment Use ◽

Complementary And Alternative

Aims. The aim of the study was to describe and compare (1) the types and prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments used among individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the Nordic countries; (2) the types of conventional treatments besides disease-modifying medicine for MS that were used in combination with CAM treatments; (3) the types of symptoms/health issues addressed by use of CAM treatments.Methods.An internet-based questionnaire was used to collect data from 6455 members of the five Nordic MS societies. The response rates varied from 50.9% in Norway to 61.5% in Iceland.Results. A large range of CAM treatments were reported to be in use in all five Nordic countries. Supplements of vitamins and minerals, supplements of oils, special diet, acupuncture, and herbal medicine were among the CAM treatment modalities most commonly used. The prevalence of the overall use of CAM treatments within the last twelve months varied from 46.0% in Sweden to 58.9% in Iceland. CAM treatments were most often used in combination with conventional treatments. The conventional treatments that were most often combined with CAM treatment were prescription medication, physical therapy, and over-the-counter (OTC) medications. The proportion of CAM users who reported exclusive use of CAM (defined as use of no conventional treatments besides disease-modifying medicine for MS) varied from 9.5% in Finland to 18.4% in Norway. In all five Nordic countries, CAM treatments were most commonly used for nonspecific/preventative purposes such as strengthening the body in general, improving the body’s muscle strength, and improving well-being. CAM treatments were less often used for the purpose of improving specific symptoms such as body pain, problems with balance, and fatigue/lack of energy.Conclusions. A large range of CAM treatments were used by individuals with MS in all Nordic countries. The most commonly reported rationale for CAM treatment use focused on improving the general state of health. The overall pattern of CAM treatment use was similar across the five countries.

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Integrating Complementary and Alternative Medicine Into Conventional Health Care System in Developing Countries

Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1177/2156587214547575 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

pp. 76-79 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Shiva Raj Mishra ◽

Dinesh Neupane ◽

Per Kallestrup

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Promotion ◽

Developing Countries ◽

Alternative Medicine ◽

Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽

Human Life ◽

Well Being ◽

Conventional Health Care ◽

Complementary And Alternative

Complementary and alternative medicine has been a part of human life and practices since the beginning of time. The role of complementary and alternative medicine for the health of humans is undisputed particularly in light of its role in health promotion and well-being. This article discusses ways through which complementary and alternative medicine can be promoted and sustained as an integrated element of health care in developing countries. We specifically present the exemplary of Amchi traditional doctors of Northern Himalayas.

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Demographic and health-related factors associated with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in multiple sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1191/1352458506ms1230oa ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 94-100 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

L Shinto ◽

V Yadav ◽

C Morris ◽

J A Lapidus ◽

A Senders ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Alternative Medicine ◽

Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽

Well Being ◽

Education Level ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Health Related ◽

Cam Use ◽

Complementary And Alternative

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is high among people with multiple sclerosis (MS), yet there are no reports on the association between CAM use and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in MS. To examine this relationship, a cross-sectional survey and SF-12 was used to collect demographic and HRQL data from 1667 survey respondents. Factors examined for their association with CAM use included, age, gender, race, self-reported disease severity, disease-modifying drug (DMT) use, MS duration, MS type, education level, physical and mental well-being. Multiple regression analysis revealed that female gender, high education level, longer MS duration, lower physical well-being and not using DMT were independent factors associated with both ‘ever’ and ‘current’ CAM use. The finding that a drop in physical component score (PCS) of the SF-12 is independently associated with an increased odds of ‘ever’ CAM use, ‘current’ CAM use, and ‘past’ CAM reflect an association of CAM use with PCS regardless of time of use. Although, temporality of this relationship cannot be established, as this was a cross-sectional study, a longitudinal study is warranted so that we can establish if HRQL is predictive for CAM use in MS.

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The potential of complementary and alternative medicine in promoting well-being and critical health literacy: a prospective, observational study of shiatsu

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1186/1472-6882-9-19 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Andrew F Long

Keyword(s):

Health Literacy ◽

Observational Study ◽

Alternative Medicine ◽

Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽

Prospective Observational Study ◽

Well Being ◽

Critical Health Literacy ◽

Complementary And Alternative

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Clinical trials in complementary and alternative medicine – the myth of limitations

Journal of Medical Science ◽

10.20883/161 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 85 (4) ◽

pp. 327

Author(s):

Tomasz Rzepiński ◽

Piotr Tabaczewski

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trials ◽

Alternative Medicine ◽

Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽

Conventional Medicine ◽

Well Being ◽

Treatment Protocols ◽

Risks And Benefits ◽

Complementary And Alternative

The paper aims to dispute common arguments put forward by practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in discussions against conducting clinical trials in CAM treatment protocols. It is argued that CAM therapies cannot be evaluated by the same criteria as those applied in conventional medicine due to specificity of CAM. This paper suggests that this line of thought undermines not only the validity of CAM therapies, but, importantly, is delaying understanding their therapeutical value. We also argue that despite apparent differences in approach both conventional medicine and CAM aim to improve human well being therefore CAM should be validated with well established and widely accepted process of balancing of risks and benefits of individual therapies as in conventional medicine clinical trials.

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