Prevalence and associated factors of complementary and integrative medicine use in patients afflicted with COVID-19

Background Complementary and Integrative Medicine (CIM) is often taken up by individuals seeking relief from different diseases. This study investigates the prevalence and associated factors of CIM use in patients with COVID-19. Methods In this telephone-based, cross-sectional study, data on CIM usa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMC complementary and alternative medicine 2022-09, Vol.22 (1), p.1-251, Article 251
Main Authors: Parvizi, Mohammad Mahdi, Forouhari, Sedigheh, Shahriarirad, Reza, Shahriarirad, Sepehr, Bradley, Ryan D, Roosta, Leila
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alternative medicine
Complementary and alternative medicine
Confidence intervals
Consent
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Data analysis
Disease transmission
Drugs
Dyspnea
Epidemiology
Ethics
Health aspects
Herbal medicine
Herbal remedies
Integrative medicine
Literature reviews
Medical personnel
Medical research
Medicine
Medicine, Botanic
Medicine, Experimental
Medicine, Herbal
Patients
Physicians
Polymerase chain reaction
Prevalence
Prevalence studies (Epidemiology)
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Side effects
Software
Statistical analysis
Traditional medicine
Urban areas
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Summary:Background Complementary and Integrative Medicine (CIM) is often taken up by individuals seeking relief from different diseases. This study investigates the prevalence and associated factors of CIM use in patients with COVID-19. Methods In this telephone-based, cross-sectional study, data on CIM usage were collected from COVID-19 patients from February till June 2020 in Fars province, Iran using a researcher-made checklist. Additionally, we asked about the patients' attitudes toward these treatments. Results Out of 453 patients diagnosed with COVID-19, 400 (88.30%) responded to our calls and agreed to participate in the study. Among them, 276 patients reported using CIM to treat COVID-19 [prevalence: 69% (95% CI: 64.2 to 73.5)]. The most frequently used herbal medicine among COVID-19 patients was ginger (n = 273, 98.9%), thyme (n = 263, 95.3%), and black cumin (n = 205, 74.3%). Most of these patients were recommended to use herbal medicine by their families and friends (n = 96, 34.8%). Univariable logistic regression revealed that age under 50 years old, residency in urban areas (including the capital of the province and small cities), employment, academic education, and being an outpatient were statistically significant factors resulting in CIM usage. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that CIM use among outpatients was 3.65 times more than among inpatients. In addition, patients under 50 years old used CIM 85% more than older patients. Ultimately, only 9 (3.3%) patients consulted with their doctors regarding these medications. No side effects due to CIM use were reported. Conclusion Many patients with COVID-19 used CIM, but few consulted with their physicians in this regard. Therefore, physicians should ask their patients about CIM usage, and patients should also report their use of CIM therapies during their medical visits. Furthermore, age and hospitalization status affected CIM use among patients with COVID-19. Keywords: COVID-19, Complementary and alternative medicine, Herbal remedies, Traditional medicine, Alternative medicine, Prevalence
ISSN:2662-7671
2662-7671
1472-6882
DOI:10.1186/s12906-022-03722-x