Prevalence of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use and Its Associated Factors among Iranian Diabetic Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors
Fereshteh Ghorat
Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran
Seyed Mosavat
Research Center for Traditional Medicine and History of Medicine, Department of Persian Medicine, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Samaneh Hadigheh
Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
Seyed Kouhpayeh
Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
Mohammad Naghizadeh
Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
Ali Rashidi
Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
Mohammad Hashempur
Research Center for Traditional Medicine and History of Medicine, Department of Persian Medicine, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Keywords:
Key words: Complementary and alternative medicine, Diabetes mellitus, Integrative medicine, Iran, Medicinal herbs, Quality of life, Traditional Persian medicine
Abstract
Objective
This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use and its associated factors among diabetic patients in Fasa, a city in southern Iran.
Methods
Data were collected from diabetic patients who visited the endocrinology clinics at Fasa University of Medical Sciences. A structured questionnaire was administered to gather information on CAM use, including the types of CAM modalities used, and reasons for use. The patient's demographic and clinical characteristics, such as age, gender, duration of diabetes, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, and quality of life (QoL) were also recorded. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the prevalence of CAM use, while logistic regression analysis was employed to identify factors associated with CAM use.
Results
A total of 376 diabetic patients participated in the study, with more than 89% reporting CAM use within the past year. Herbal preparations were the most commonly used type of CAM, with a prevalence rate of 99.4%. Factors associated with CAM use included patients’ psychological health, attitude towards the safety of CAM, belief in the synergistic effects of combining routine medications with CAM, and previous positive experiences with CAM.
Conclusion
The high prevalence of CAM use highlights the importance of considering it in diabetes management and the need for healthcare professionals’ engagement in open discussions with patients about their CAM practices. Understanding the factors influencing CAM use can inform healthcare providers and policymakers in developing appropriate strategies for integrating CAM approaches into conventional diabetes care.
Key words: Complementary and alternative medicine, Diabetes mellitus, Integrative medicine, Iran, Medicinal herbs, Quality of life, Traditional Persian medicine
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