The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Peritoneal Dialysis Patients at a Second-Level Hospital in Yucatán Mexico

Abstract

Background: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widely used for multiple reasons such as treatment of diseases and their symptoms, empowerment, self-care, disease prevention, dissatisfaction, adverse effects or cost of conventional medicine, perception of compatibility with beliefs, and idiosyncrasy. This study investigated CAM use in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). Methods: A cross-sectional survey study was conducted with 240 eligible patients with CKD in the PD program. By applying the I-CAM-Q-questionnaire, the frequency, level of satisfaction, and reasons for CAM use were explored, and the demographic and clinical data of users and non-users were analyzed. Data analysis included descriptive analysis, Student’s t-test, Mann–Whitney U, chi-square, and Fisher tests. Results: The main types of CAM used were herbal medicine, and chamomile was the most commonly used. To improve the state of well-being was the main reason for use, the attributable benefit of CAM was high, and only a low percentage of users reported side effects. Only 31.8% of the users informed their physicians. Conclusion: The use of CAM is popular among renal patients, and physicians are not adequately informed; in particular, the CAM type ingested represents a risk for drug interactions and toxicity.

Experiential Fallibilism and Decision-Making Process: A Perspective from a Patient with Chronic Kidney Disease

“…Although medicinal plants can be toxic to the kidney, they are perceived to improve the quality of life of dialysis patients. 9 Similarly, experiential fallibilism on the patient's side must translate into trust in the doctor who informs them that, for instance, chronic kidney disease cannot be cured. I remember that I used to take treatments prescribed by traditional healers because the use of traditional medicine had had positive results on my other medical conditions in the past, such as malaria and flu.…”