Knowledge, attitudes, and practice of complementary and alternative medicine among diabetic patients

Abstract EN

Background : Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is defined as a group of various medical and healthcare systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered part of conventional western medicine.

Objective: This study was carried out to estimate the prevalence of CAM use among diabetic patients and to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practice of CAM among diabetic patients.

Materials and Methods: This is a hospital‑based cross‑sectional study done at diabetic center of Merjan teaching hospital on 200 patients.

Results : This study estimated that the prevalence of CAM use among diabetic patients at Babylon province was 48.5%; the most common type of CAM used by diabetic patients was Herbal products (24.7 %), while nutritional supplements and spiritual healing together used by (18.6 %)of (CAM) users, herbal products and nutritional supplements together at rate of (14.4 %) and (40.2 %) use the 3 types of CAM modalities together.

The most common type of Herbal products used by diabetic patients were Garlic which used at (16.9 %), while Lemon used by (19.1 %) of Diabetic patients, Cinnamon (Darcin) (10.2 %), Fenugreek (Helba) (8.8 %), (7.3%) bitter gum, and (18.

3%) were a mixture of herbs, (7.3 %) black seed.

(62 %)of Subjects had good knowledge about (CAM),(28 %) had fair knowledge and (10%) poor knowledge.

(66 %) of (CAM ) users had negative attitudes toward (CAM) and (34 %) had positive attitude.

Conclusion: Our study estimated the prevalence of CAM use among diabetic patients, revealed good knowledge of the diabetic patients and negative attitudes of CAM users, and showed five significant associations with score of knowledge and attitudes (age, educational level, residence, family history of DM, and follow‑up visits), which was consistent with some studies in other eastern and western countries.