Use of complementary and alternative medicine among asthmatic patients in primary care clinics in Malaysia

• Main Authors: Alshagga Mustafa, Al-Dubai Sami, Muhamad Faiq Siti, Yusuf Ahmad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2011-01-01
• Series: Annals of Thoracic Medicine
• Subjects: Asthma; complementary and alternative medicine; disclosure; Malaysia
• Online Access: http://www.thoracicmedicine.org/article.asp?issn=1817-1737;year=2011;volume=6;issue=3;spage=115;epage=119;aulast=Alshagga

<b>Objectives:</b> This study aimed to determine the knowledge about asthma and the prevalence, disclosure and evaluation of the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among asthmatic patients. <b>Methods:</b> This cross-sectional study was conducted on 95 patients diagnosed with asthma in a primary healthcare centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia using a self-administered questionnaire. <b>Results:</b> Ninety-five patients with a mean age of 47.06 years (&#177;12.8) participated, the majority were female (66.7&#x0025;), Malay (72.6&#x0025;). The prevalence of ever-CAM use was 61.1&#x0025;. The non-ever-CAM users&#x2032; mean age was 51&#177;13.9 years while the ever-CAM users&#x2032; mean age was 44.5 &#177;11.5 years ( <i>P</i> = 0.021). Sixty-three females (66.8&#x0025;) used CAM compared to 14 males (43.8&#x0025;) ( <i>P</i> = 0.014). Thirty-six (62.1&#x0025;) CAM users had not discussed use of CAM with their doctors. The main reason of non-disclosure was "the doctor never asked" (55.6&#x0025;), and the main sources of information about CAM were family and relatives (46.6&#x0025;). There was no significant difference between use of CAM and knowledge about asthma. The majority of asthmatic patients used rubs (39&#x0025;), foods (16.9&#x0025;) and herbs (16.9&#x0025;). About 76&#x0025; of asthmatic patients perceived CAM as good for their disease management. On linear multiple regression, Malay race ( <i>P</i> = 0.026) and female gender ( <i>P</i> = 0.006) were significant predictors of CAM use. <b>Conclusion:</b> Use of CAM among asthmatic patients is relatively high, particularly among females. The majority of asthmatic patients valued the use of CAM. Non-disclosure was high in this study. Health education of asthmatic patients about CAM is highly recommended.