Abstract
Background: Traditional medicine and herbs are widely used in the Saudi Arabia population.
Objectives: Assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in a Saudi population.
Design: Cross-sectional study
Setting: Adults attending an outpatient clinic at King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Patients and Methods: A survey questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning CAM.
Statistical Analysis: Pearson’s chi-square test and t-test.
Results: Of 250 respondents, 162 (64.8%) were female. The mean age of the participants was 36.16 ± 11.85 years. Of the respondents, 166 (66.4%) claimed to have knowledge about CAM; 123 stated this knowledge was primarily obtained through social media. A total of 148 respondents (59.2%) practiced CAM, and the most common practices included incantation (36.0%), herbal medicine (33.6%), cupping (33.6%), and honey (27.6%). Most respondents (87.2%), especially older individuals, agreed/strongly agreed that a need for CAM exists, and 217 (86.8%) also agreed/strongly agreed that rules and regulations should be implemented for CAM. A total of 152 respondents (60.8%) believed that CAM is effective, and 74.4% believed that CAM is safe. Women were significantly more likely to use supplements, whereas men were significantly more likely to use camel products.
Conclusion: Most of our study population had knowledge about CAM and practiced CAM, particularly older individuals, and more than half of the respondents discussed CAM with health professionals. Old age (>40 years), low education levels, and female sex were linked to a high frequency of CAM usage
References
- World Health Organization. Traditional, complementary and integrative medicine. Available from: https://www.who.int/traditional-complementary-integrative-medicine/about/en/. Accessed 18 November 2018
- Moizo J, Okafor A, Sutton MA, Leyva B, Stone LM, Olaku O. Complementary and alternative medicine use among persons with multiple chronic conditions: results from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2018;18(1):281.
- Wang C, Preisser J, Chung Y, Li K. Complementary and alternative medicine use among children with mental health issues: results from the National Health Interview Survey. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2018;18(1):241.
- Miner SA, Robins S, Zhu YJ, Keeren K, Gu V, Read SC, et al. Evidence for the use of complementary and alternative medicines during fertility treatment: a scoping review. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2018;18(1):158.
- Abuelgasim KA, Alsharhan Y, Alenzi T, Alhazzani A, Ali YZ, Jazieh AR. The use of complementary and alternative medicine by patients with cancer: a cross-sectional survey in Saudi Arabia. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2018;18(1):88
- Shi J, Ni J, Lu T, Zhang X, Wei M, Li T, et al. Adding Chinese herbal medicine to conventional therapy brings cognitive benefits to patients with Alzheimer’s disease: a retroactive analysis. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2017;17(1):533.
- Naja F, Anouti B, Shaila H, Akel R, Haibe Y, Tfayli A. Prevalence and correlates of complementary and alternative medicine use among patients with lung cancer: a cross-sectional study in Beirut, Lebanon. Evid Based Complement Altern Med. 2017;2017:8434697.
- Busari AA, Mufutau MA. High prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine use among patients with sickle cell disease in a tertiary hospital in Lagos, South West, Nigeria. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2017;17(1):299.
- Lulebo AM, Mapatano MA, Mutombo PB, Mafuta EM, Samba G, Coppieters Y. Prevalence and determinants of use of complementary and alternative medicine by hypertensive patients attending primary health care facilities in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo: a cross-sectional study. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2017;17(1):205.
- Clarke TC, Black LI, Stussman BJ, Barnes PM, Nahin RL. Trends in the use of complementary health approaches among adults: United States, 2002-2012. Natl Health Stat Report [Internet]. 2015;(79):1-16.
- The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. The use of complementary and alternative medicine in the United States. Available at: https://nccih.nih.gov/research/statistics/2007/camsurvey_fs1.htm
- Naja F, Alameddine M, Itani L, Shoaib H, Hariri D, Talhouk S. The use of complementary and alternative medicine among Lebanese adults: results from a national survey. Evid Based Complement Altern Med. 2015;2015:682397.
- Oyunchimeg B, Hwang JH, Ahmed M, Choi S, Han D. Complementary and alternative medicine use among patients with cancer in Mongolia: a national hospital survey. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2017;17(1):58.
- Teo TY, Yap J, Shen T, Yeo KK. Complementary and alternative medicine use amongst patients with cardiovascular disease in Singapore. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2016;16(1):446.
- Lin YR, Wu MY, Chiang JH, Yen HR, Yang ST. The utilization of traditional Chinese medicine in patients with dysfunctional uterine bleeding in Taiwan: a nationwide population-based study. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2017;17(1):427.
- Bahall M. Prevalence, patterns, and perceived value of complementary and aternative medicine among HIV patients: a descriptive study. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2017;17(1):422.
- Bahall M. Prevalence, patterns, and perceived value of complementary and alternative medicine among cancer patients: a cross-sectional descriptive study. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2017;17(1):345.
- Saha BL, Seam MOR, Islam MM, Das A, Ahamed SK, Karmakar P, et al. General perception and self-practice of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among undergraduate pharmacy students of Bangladesh. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2017;17(1):314.
- Bahall M, Legall G. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices among health care providers regarding complementary and alternative medicine in Trinidad and Tobago. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2017;17(1):144.
- Teo DC, Ng PS, Tan SH, Lim AT, Toh DS, Chan SY, et al. Drug-induced liver injury associated with complementary and alternative medicine: a review of adverse event reports in an Asian community from 2009-2014. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2016;16(1):192.
- Alsanad S, Aboushanab T, Khalil M, Alkhamees OA. A descriptive review of the prevalence and usage of traditional and complementary medicine among Saudi diabetic patients. Scientifica (Cairo). 2018;2018:6303190.
- Kamel FO, Magadmi RM, Hagras MM, Magadmi B, AlAhmad RA. Knowledge, attitude, and beliefs toward traditional herbal medicine use among diabetics in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2017;9:207-12
- Alrowais NA, Alyousefi NA. The prevalence extent of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among Saudis. Saudi Pharm J. 2017;25(3):306-18.
- Al-Eidi S, Tayel S, Al-Slail F, Qureshi NA, Sohaibani I, Khalil M, et al. Knowledge, attitude and practice of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus towards complementary and alternative medicine. J Integr Med. 2016;14(3):187-96.
- Alwhaibi M, Sambamoorthi U. Sex differences in the use of complementary and alternative medicine among adults with multiple chronic conditions. EvidBased Complement Altern Med. 2016;2016:2067095.
- Jaiswal K, Bajait C, Pimpalkhute S, Sontakke S, Dakhale G, Magdum A. Knowledge, attitude and practice of complementary and alternative medicine: A patient’s perspective. Int J Med Public Health. 2015;5(1).
- Al-Yahia OA, Al-Bedah AM, Al-Dossari DS, Salem SO, Qureshi NA. Prevalence and public knowledge, attitude and practice of traditional medicine in Al-Aziziah, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Br J Med Med Res 2017;20:1-14.
- Musaiger AO, Abahussain NA. Attitudes and practices of complementary and alternative medicine among adolescents in Saudi Arabia. Global J Health Sci. 2015;7(1):173-9.
Corresponding Author
Alaa Ali Alarbash
Department of Family Medicine Institution(s): King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Mobile: 0504670880