A hospital-based study on complementary and alternative medicine use among diabetes patients in Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients is increasing worldwide. It can affect optimum glycemic management. This study was to determine the rate and influencing factors of CAM use among diabetes patients as well as their effect on glycemic control. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among T2DM patients attending the outpatient department of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. It is a tertiary hospital in the northern part of Bangladesh. A face-to-face interview with a pretested structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Chi-square (χ 2) test and multivariate logistic regression model were used in this study for data analysis. Results: Out of 244 T2DM patients, 86 (35.2%) used CAM. Multivariate logistic regression model showed that lower family income group (AOR = 8.7, 95% CI: 2.15-35.22, p-value 0.002), having no institutional education (AOR = 3.4, 95% CI: 1.17-9.87, p-value 0.025) and having diabetes for more than five years (AOR = 2.821, 95% CI: 1.34-5.94, p-value 0.006) were the most influential predictors of CAM use. The most commonly used CAMs were herbal products (67.4%) and homeopathic medicine (37.2%). Most of the CAM users (72%) were influenced by friends, neighbors, and family members. The most common reasons behind CAM use were reported to be the belief that CAM helped control diabetes better (44.2%) and easy availability and lower cost (27.9%). More than half of the users reported the efficacy of CAM as 'nothing significant', while others reported as somewhat good. 14% of CAM users experienced side-effects, especially gastrointestinal upset. It was observed that using CAM was associated with poor glycemic control (AOR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.14-4.44, p-value 0.018). Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that some modifiable factors are associated with the use of CAM, and it cannot maintain good glycemic control. So, patients should be made aware of the ineffectiveness and bad effects of CAM by enhancing educational and poverty-alleviating programs.

Prevalence and determinants of using complementary and alternative medicine for the treatment of chronic illnesses: A multicenter study in Bangladesh

“…Moreover, the most prevalent reasons for CAM use were a few side effects, improved efficacy, and that CAM is less expensive and more readily available. These causes are comparable to the findings of earlier investigations [ 11 , 17 – 21 ].…”

“…In this study, one-third of the participants had utilized CAM to manage chronic diseases at some point in their lives. This result is similar to what was previously reported among diabetic patients in Bangladesh (35.2%) [ 11 ]. A study in Malaysia found that 63.9% of patients with chronic conditions used CAM, and another study in North-India found the rate was 53.2%, which is significantly higher than our estimate [ 19 , 20 ].…”

“…Patients with an insufficient level of education, on the other hand, were more likely to use CAM solely. This finding backs with a previous study conducted in Bangladesh, South Africa, and India, which found that primary school students were more likely to use CAM than those with a higher degree [ 11 , 20 , 21 ]. Another study in Canada saw an increased level of education increases the use of CAM in conjunction with CM [ 27 ].…”

“…More than 70% of the population in developing countries still depends on CAM treatment despite conventional medicine’s progress [ 7 ]. According to a recent survey, 35.2% of diabetes patients in Bangladesh used CAM for their diabetic management [ 11 ].…”

Proportion and associated factors of the utilisation of complementary and alternative medicine exclusively in a hospital in Bangladesh

“…According to a recent survey, 32.8% of patients with chronic disease used some form of CAM for their chronic disease management in Bangladesh [15]. Another recent study from Bangladesh reported that 33% of diabetic patients in the northern part of the country used some different types of CAM to manage or treat their condition [16].…”