The use of complementary and alternative medicine by older patients that have chronic diseases

Abstract

Background: Many methods related with the health system or not are being used in disease treatment. The community's lack of knowledge leads the patients to use extra medical treatment methods. The majority of patients who use CAM use more than one method. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by older patients with chronic diseases. Methods and material: This study was conducted in the internal medicine, cardiology, chest diseases, and physical therapy units, between 10.04.08 and 31.07.08 in Ondokuz Mayis University, Faculty of Medicine. 275 patients, who accepted an invitation to participate in the research, were taken into the scope of the study. A self administered descriptive questionnaire was used as the data collection instrument for this study. The questionnaires included descriptive clinic characteristics, CAM information, the implementation situation and CAM list. The collected data was evaluated by using the following tests: descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and the student t test. Results: The most preferred methods were determined as self prayer, herbal treatment, relaxation techniques, diets, exercises, fast walking, multivitamins and music therapy. The satisfaction level of the patients regarding CAM methods was found to be mediocre (2.40+/-0.59). A total of 22 different types of herbal products were reported as being used by 238 older patients. Garlic, lemon, stinging nettle, blackberry, black mulberry, rose-hip, garden thyme, flaxseed, ginger, mallow, sheep sorrel, and French lavender were the most frequently consumed herbal preparations. Conclusion: In the study it was determined that although patients do not have enough knowledge about CAM methods, CAM prevalence and satisfaction levels are high.