Azin Behnood-Rod1, Masoomeh Afzali Poor Khoshkbejari2, Pirouz Pourzargar3, Mostafa Hassanzadeh4, Yashar Moharamzad5, Feizollah Foroughi6. 1. Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical Branch, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: azin.behnoodrod@yahoo.com. 2. Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ardabil Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ardabil, Iran. Electronic address: dr.afzalipoor@gmail.com. 3. Private Practice, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: piruuz@gmail.com. 4. School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 5. Student Research Committee, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran. Electronic address: yasharpop@hotmail.com. 6. Student Research Committee, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran. Electronic address: fforoughi@kums.ac.ir.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of use of different types of CAM among patients who attended outpatient general practices (GP). METHODS: CAM use, type, reason, administration, satisfaction, and disclosure to physician were documented by interviewing 360 patients. RESULTS: A total of 192 individuals (53.3%) reported that they were using or had used at least one form of CAM therapy (a total of 343 CAM therapies). The five most commonly used CAM therapies were, respectively, vitamin supplements (105 subjects, 54.7%), traditional herbal products (80 cases, 41.7%), mineral supplements (58 cases, 30.2%), herbal medicines (49 cases, 25.5%) and dietary therapies (18 cases, 9.4%); 240 therapies (70%) were self-prescribed. CONCLUSION: A substantial number of the patients had used CAM on their own; one-third of these patients did not have sufficient knowledge about the therapies used. Health care providers should be aware of this practice by the patients and seek information about CAM usage.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of use of different types of CAM among patients who attended outpatient general practices (GP). METHODS:CAM use, type, reason, administration, satisfaction, and disclosure to physician were documented by interviewing 360 patients. RESULTS: A total of 192 individuals (53.3%) reported that they were using or had used at least one form of CAM therapy (a total of 343 CAM therapies). The five most commonly used CAM therapies were, respectively, vitamin supplements (105 subjects, 54.7%), traditional herbal products (80 cases, 41.7%), mineral supplements (58 cases, 30.2%), herbal medicines (49 cases, 25.5%) and dietary therapies (18 cases, 9.4%); 240 therapies (70%) were self-prescribed. CONCLUSION: A substantial number of the patients had used CAM on their own; one-third of these patients did not have sufficient knowledge about the therapies used. Health care providers should be aware of this practice by the patients and seek information about CAM usage.