Predictors of Use of Complementary and Alternative Therapies Among General Population
Many people around the world are turning to medical treatments and products outside the mainstream health system, commonly referred to as complementary or alternative medicine (CAM). Unfortunately, research is still lacking on their safety or effectiveness; many claims made by non-mainstream practitioners can seem temptingly promising.
Patients who use alternative therapies report reduced stress, improved moods and fewer side effects from conventional medicines. Acupuncture and guided imagery have been known to reduce feelings of anxiety while helping patients sleep better. Other approaches like cognitive behavioural group intervention or anthroposophic mistletoe extracts have also been reported as helpful in decreasing radiotherapy side effects for people with cancer.
Complementary and alternative medicine is used in addition to conventional treatment to boost your immune system, promote overall wellbeing and give you a positive attitude about yourself. It can be especially beneficial for people living with cancer whose conventional treatments have failed, making this type of support invaluable.
More and more people are turning to medical treatments and products not covered by the traditional health system, commonly referred to as complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) in the USA. These may include herbs, acupuncture, massage therapy, yoga, chiropractic adjustments, and meditation for relief from symptoms.
In both the United States and abroad, CAM (computer assisted therapy) is becoming more widely used. To fully comprehend how and why this phenomenon is growing so rapidly, more research is necessary to gain insight.
To investigate this further, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 326 participants with type 2 diabetes attending diabetic clinics in Taiwan. They filled out a survey instrument developed using the Health Belief Model; results were then compared to another sample of 326 people without diabetes who were also interviewed.
People with type 2 diabetes were more likely to use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). This included having an optimistic attitude toward CAM, confidence in its efficacy for treating their condition, and a history of using CAM treatments.
Other factors associated with CAM use were faith in religion’s power to heal and a desire to maintain control over one’s healthcare. The latter was significantly predictive of primary reliance on CAM, suggesting individuals who are less satisfied with conventional care or who prioritize physical wellbeing may seek out unconventional forms of treatment to take more responsibility for their wellbeing.
In addition to adhering to a holistic philosophy of health, those who rely primarily on CAM are more likely to express dissatisfaction with conventional medical care and have greater faith in religion as an agent for healing. These results support the theory that those who use CAM do so out of philosophical reasons rather than due to dissatisfaction with conventional medical services.