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Potential factors that influence usage of complementary and alternative medicine worldwide: a systematic review

Potential factors that influence usage of complementary and alternative medicine worldwide: a systematic review
Potential factors that influence usage of complementary and alternative medicine worldwide: a systematic review

Objectives: To determine similarities and differences in the reasons for using or not using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) amongst general and condition-specific populations, and amongst populations in each region of the globe. Methods: A literature search was performed on Pubmed, ScienceDirect and EMBASE. Keywords: ‘herbal medicine’ OR ‘herbal and dietary supplement’ OR ‘complementary and alternative medicine’ AND ‘reason’ OR ‘attitude’. Quantitative or qualitative original articles in English, published between 2003 and 2018 were reviewed. Conference proceedings, pilot studies, protocols, letters, and reviews were excluded. Papers were appraised using valid tools and a ‘risk of bias’ assessment was also performed. Thematic analysis was conducted. Reasons were coded in each paper, then codes were grouped into categories. If several categories reported similar reasons, these were combined into a theme. Themes were then analysed using χ 2 tests to identify the main factors related to reasons for CAM usage. Results: 231 publications were included. Reasons for CAM use amongst general and condition-specific populations were similar. The top three reasons for CAM use were: (1) having an expectation of benefits of CAM (84% of publications), (2) dissatisfaction with conventional medicine (37%) and (3) the perceived safety of CAM (37%). Internal health locus of control as an influencing factor was more likely to be reported in Western populations, whereas the social networks was a common factor amongst Asian populations (p < 0.05). Affordability, easy access to CAM and tradition were significant factors amongst African populations (p < 0.05). Negative attitudes towards CAM and satisfaction with conventional medicine (CM) were the main reasons for non-use (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Dissatisfaction with CM and positive attitudes toward CAM, motivate people to use CAM. In contrast, satisfaction with CM and negative attitudes towards CAM are the main reasons for non-use.

Complementary and alternative medicine, conventional medicine
Tangkiatkumjai, Mayuree
b2db2e30-fb6c-49db-98da-ae11d8cceecc
Boardman, Helen
5f0af539-f240-459d-aa15-7749243de5ed
Walker, Dawn-Marie
5d4c78b7-4411-493e-8844-b64efc72a1e8
Tangkiatkumjai, Mayuree
b2db2e30-fb6c-49db-98da-ae11d8cceecc
Boardman, Helen
5f0af539-f240-459d-aa15-7749243de5ed
Walker, Dawn-Marie
5d4c78b7-4411-493e-8844-b64efc72a1e8

Tangkiatkumjai, Mayuree, Boardman, Helen and Walker, Dawn-Marie (2020) Potential factors that influence usage of complementary and alternative medicine worldwide: a systematic review. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 20 (1), [363]. (doi:10.1186/s12906-020-03157-2).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Objectives: To determine similarities and differences in the reasons for using or not using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) amongst general and condition-specific populations, and amongst populations in each region of the globe. Methods: A literature search was performed on Pubmed, ScienceDirect and EMBASE. Keywords: ‘herbal medicine’ OR ‘herbal and dietary supplement’ OR ‘complementary and alternative medicine’ AND ‘reason’ OR ‘attitude’. Quantitative or qualitative original articles in English, published between 2003 and 2018 were reviewed. Conference proceedings, pilot studies, protocols, letters, and reviews were excluded. Papers were appraised using valid tools and a ‘risk of bias’ assessment was also performed. Thematic analysis was conducted. Reasons were coded in each paper, then codes were grouped into categories. If several categories reported similar reasons, these were combined into a theme. Themes were then analysed using χ 2 tests to identify the main factors related to reasons for CAM usage. Results: 231 publications were included. Reasons for CAM use amongst general and condition-specific populations were similar. The top three reasons for CAM use were: (1) having an expectation of benefits of CAM (84% of publications), (2) dissatisfaction with conventional medicine (37%) and (3) the perceived safety of CAM (37%). Internal health locus of control as an influencing factor was more likely to be reported in Western populations, whereas the social networks was a common factor amongst Asian populations (p < 0.05). Affordability, easy access to CAM and tradition were significant factors amongst African populations (p < 0.05). Negative attitudes towards CAM and satisfaction with conventional medicine (CM) were the main reasons for non-use (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Dissatisfaction with CM and positive attitudes toward CAM, motivate people to use CAM. In contrast, satisfaction with CM and negative attitudes towards CAM are the main reasons for non-use.

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 12 November 2020
e-pub ahead of print date: 23 November 2020
Published date: 23 November 2020
Additional Information: Publisher Copyright: © 2020, The Author(s).
Keywords: Complementary and alternative medicine, conventional medicine

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 445396
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/445396
PURE UUID: 2a9adbe9-5199-47ce-b9a3-ca0f9bca3905
ORCID for Dawn-Marie Walker: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-2135-1363

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 07 Dec 2020 17:32
Last modified: 06 Jun 2024 01:53

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Contributors

Author: Mayuree Tangkiatkumjai
Author: Helen Boardman
Author: Dawn-Marie Walker ORCID iD

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