Complementary medicine use and health literacy in older Australians

The relationship between use of complementary and alternative medicine and health literacy in chronically ill outpatient cases: a cross-sectional study in southeastern Iran

Background

Chronically ill outpatient cases use a variety of complementary and alternative medicines due to their diseases and therapeutic complications. Chronic condition, quality of life, and health literacy all affect the use of complementary medicine among chronically ill outpatient cases. Health literacy helps patients make fully informed decisions about the use of complementary and alternative medicine. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between complementary and alternative medicine and health literacy in chronically ill outpatient cases.

Method

This cross-sectional analytical-descriptive study was conducted on 400 chronically ill outpatient cases referred to medical centers affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences. Convenience sampling was used. Research tools included the complementary and alternative medicine questionnaire and the health literacy questionnaire. SPSS25 was used to analyze data.

Results

The mean use of complementary and alternative medicine in a recent year was 16.75 ± 7.89, which was lower than the mid-point of the questionnaire (84). Prayer, medicinal plants, vitamin supplements, music therapy, and art therapy were the mostly used complementary and alternative medicine methods. The most common reasons for using complementary medicine were to reduce physical complications and improve anxiety and stress. The mean satisfaction with the use of complementary and alternative medicine was 34.96 ± 6.69. The mean health literacy score was 67.13 ± 19.90. Decision-making and the use of health information had the highest mean score among the dimensions of health literacy, whereas reading skills received the lowest mean score. We found a significant and direct relationship between the use of complementary and alternative medicine, health literacy, and all its dimensions.

Conclusion

The study results showed that health literacy predicted the use of complementary and alternative medicine. Health education and promotion programs may be useful for improvement of health literacy in the community.

Proportion and associated factors of the utilisation of complementary and alternative medicine exclusively in a hospital in Bangladesh

Background

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has played a critical role in ensuring universal access to basic health care services around the world. In Bangladesh, conventional medicine is a common approach for health care practices, yet, due to Bangladesh’s high out-of-pocket payment, millions of people utilise CAM-based healthcare services for illnesses. In Bangladesh, there is a scarcity of data on how CAM is perceived and utilised. The goal of this study was to determine the proportion and correlates of the utilisation of CAM among patients visiting a tertiary level hospital, in Bangladesh.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey involving 1,183 patients who received health care from a hospital in Bangladesh was interviewed for this study. The associated factors on utilising CAM were identified using multivariable logistic regression analysis.

Results

Thirty-three percent of patients utilised CAM exclusively to treat their illnesses, whereas the rest utilised conventional medicine before CAM. Young adult patients aged 26 to 45 years (AOR = 6.26, 95% CI:3.24–12.07), patients without education (AOR = 2.99, 1.81–4.93), and married patients (AOR = 1.79, 1.08–2.97) were the most likely to be only CAM users. The most common reasons for using CAM were belief in its effectiveness, less adverse effects, affordability and lower costs.

Conclusion

In Bangladesh, CAM plays a significant role in health care delivery, with high-levels of patient satisfaction and health benefits. Patients who are older and have a higher level of education are more hesitant to use CAM for their illness, yet CAM has the potential to play a significant role in reducing hospitalisation by providing high reliability and low costs.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12906-022-03709-8.

Use of complementary medicines and lifestyle approaches by people living with dementia: Exploring experiences, motivations and attitudes

BACKGROUND

Lack of effective treatments for chronic conditions is associated with high rates of complementary medicine (CM) use. However, little is known about CM use for dementia.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to explore the experiences, motivations, and attitudes towards CM use by people living with dementia in an Australian setting.

DESIGN

This study had a qualitative research design; quantitative demographic information was also collected.

METHODS

In-depth interviews were conducted with people living with dementia and their caregivers (N = 18). A thematic (inductive) analysis approach was taken to interpret data.

RESULTS

Three in four participants used CM for dementia, spending ~AUD$100/month (USD$70/month). Within three overarching themes, a range of sub-themes was identified: (1) CM knowledge and use: people living with dementia and caregivers understanding of CM, types of CM used, and CM usage patterns; (2) Self-determined reasons for use/non-use: maintain or improve quality of life, hope, management of dementia symptoms, level of awareness, willingness and evidence, perceptions on efficacy and safety of CM, experiences of conventional medicine, and holistic approach to wellness; (3) External determinants of use: information on CM, relationship influences on CM use, and experiences with General Practitioners (GPs) and CM.

CONCLUSION

Findings highlight that CM use is widespread and positively viewed by people living with dementia and their caregivers. Decisions regarding CM use were based on personal opinions. Findings have important implications for conversations with health professionals regarding CM use by people living with dementia to improve communication, health literacy, and reduce the risk of adverse effects through polypharmacy.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

This study showed that CM is a valued approach for dementia management by people living with dementia, their families, and healthcare providers. Future international research is required to evaluate the efficacy and safety of these approaches and promote accurate advice in nursing care.

The usage of over-the-counter products by private insured patients in Germany - a claims data analysis with focus on complementary medicine

Background

An important contribution to well-being of human beings can be observed by the use of self-medication products that is reflected in the constantly growing volume of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. The aim of the current study was to extend the measurement concept for OTCs by exploring the relevance of the peripheral assortment provided by the widely accepted framework of the Anatomical Therapeutical and Chemical (ATC) classification of the WHO.

Methods

The focus was on the prescriptions and drug-related receipts submitted by privately insured persons to 18 private health insurers (PHIs) in Germany from the year 2016. The age- and gender-specific average claims amount per risks of outpatient drug expenditure were used as weights to scale up the relative distributions of the item amounts. The ATC-classification defines the commodity groups and discriminates between the main and the peripheral assortment. A descriptive analysis assessed the OTC frequencies and sum scores of the product groups within the main and peripheral assortment whereby the study group explored and assessed the relevance of each category independently according to the OTCs and integrative medicines.

Results

The analysis included 22.1 Mio. packages from the main assortment and examined 10.1 Mio. packages from the peripheral assortment. The latter was examined thoroughly and the commodity groups “Pharmaceutical food products”, “Medicinal products for special therapy options” and particular “Hygiene and body care products” meet the defined requirements for OTCs relevant for integrative medicines. A high proportion of OTC products from the peripheral assortment was associated with the categories “medicinal products for special therapy options”. Homeopathy and anthroposophy present two special therapy options, which are relevant for the extended OTC measurement.

Conclusions

The analysis of OTC drugs is feasible when the main and the peripheral assortment is available and enable to integrate about 18% of all OTCs, which are neglected by the common ATC-based approach. The presented extended approach may help to identify potential users of OTCs or people in need of OTC use. In case of the highly disputed homeopathy and anthroposophy products, more research among interactions with prescriptions drugs (Rx), nutrition’s and other potentially harmful exposures is recommended.

Social Support, Health Literacy, and Health Care Utilization Among Older Adults

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between social support, health literacy, and health care utilization in older Chinese adults. A cross-sectional survey design was employed. Data were collected from 32 nursing homes from Urumqi in Xinjiang of China. A total of 1486 respondents completed a pack of questionnaires. The average health literacy level of older adults in nursing homes was relatively low, only 73.68 ± 29.42 points; the average social support level was also relatively low, only 31.42 ± 7.12 points (lower than domestic norm of Chinese residents, P < .001). Both values were below the midpoint for the overall population, indicating a sample with below-average levels of healthy literacy and social support. Low social support levels are associated with poor health literacy and greater likelihood of hospital admission (P < .05). Social support was significantly associated with health literacy. Improving the quantity and quality of social support may be an effective means to obtain better health literacy and lower hospital admissions.