Complementary Alternative Medicine in patients with rheumatic diseases in South Korea: utilization patterns, attitude and factors affecting their use Complementary Alternative Medicine in patients with rheumatic diseases in South Korea: utilization patterns, attitude and factors affecting their use Complementary Alternative Medicine in patients with rheumatic diseases in South Korea: utilization patterns, attitude and factors affecting their use

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study is to determine, among the patients with rheumatic diseases, the prevalence and utilization patterns of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), the outcomes of CAM used, attitudes associated with CAM use and factors affecting the use of CAM.

Materials and Methods

From October 23 to November 31 in 2003, face-to-face structured interviews were conducted in a rheumatology hospital in Seoul. 221 patients with rheumatic diseases, who visited the hospital, were participated.

Results

CAM was used by 58.8% of the patients with rheumatic disease. Oriental medicine and physical therapy were the most common types of CAM used, accounting for 66.7% and 20.7% respectively of overall CAM usage. 35.5% of CAM users were satisfied with the effects of CAM. CAM satisfiers showed their willingness to reuse and recommend CAM to others, accounting for 66.7% and 59.6% respectively. Major providers of CAM used were oriental medicine doctor/physician (67.8%). Neighborhood/family (67.7%) was main informant. Half of CAM users were satisfied with the cost of CAM utilization. Only income level was predictive for the use of CAM (p<0.01).

Conclusion

CAM use is common in patients with rheumatic diseases. Among them, poor patients often use CAM than others. Most of CAM users did not have formal informants on CAM. Overall, the CAM users dissatisfied the effects of CAM. These findings support a need for outcome studies on the effectiveness of CAM in rheumatic diseases, as well as the improvement of providing patients with information on CAM usage.