Table 3 Prevalence, modes and characteristics of CAM use among patients with T2D (n = 333)
Prevalence and types of CAM used among diabetic patients | n (%) |
|---|---|
Used CAM in the previous year | |
Yes | 70(21) |
No | 263(79) |
Used CAM since diagnosis | |
Yes | 127(38.1) |
No | 206(61.9) |
CAM related characteristics among CAM users (n = 127) | |
CAM choice* | |
Friends | 84(66.1) |
Media | 25(19.7) |
Family believes | 14(11.0) |
Personal choice | 13(10.2) |
Health practitioner | 9(7.1) |
Reasons of CAM use* | |
Trying CAM for the sake of experiment | 81(63.8) |
Belief in advantages of CAM practices | 53(41.7) |
Looking for another solution | 23(18.1) |
Lost hope with conventional therapy | 6(4.7) |
CAM is accessible and available | 1(0.8) |
What was your expectation when you were using CAM | |
Prevent progression of diabetes | 34(26.8) |
No expectations | 29(22.8) |
Complete cure of disease | 28(22.0) |
Lowering blood glucose level | 24(19.0) |
Weight loss | 3(2.4) |
Better health status | 2(1.6) |
Other** | 6(4.7) |
Feeling after CAM use* | |
Feeling of strengthening of body | 60(47.2) |
Feeling of no change | 58(45.7) |
Feeling of disappearance of several symptoms | 40(31.5) |
Feeling of being in good psychological condition | 31(24.4) |
Feeling physically worse | 7(5.5) |
Feeling rise of several symptoms | 6(4.7) |
Not decided | 2(1.6) |
Feeling of being in bad psychological condition | 1(0.8) |
Fear of the product and its effect | 1(0.8) |
Improvement of sexual life | 1(0.8) |
How do you assess the usefulness of CAM? | |
No useful at all | 45(35.4) |
Very useful | 30(23.6) |
Not sure/unable to assess | 28(22.0) |
Of limited usefulness | 24(18.9) |
Side effects from CAM use | |
Yes | 13(10.2) |
No | 113(89.0) |
Undecided | 1(0.8) |
Would you use CAM again? | |
Yes | 64(50.4) |
No | 59(46.5) |
Undecided | 4(3.1) |
Would you Recommended CAM to other T2DM patients? | |
Yes | 46(37.1) |
No | 49(39.5) |
Undecided | 29(23.4) |
Was your use complementary or alternative (n = 86)? | |
Complementary | 68(79.1) |
Alternative | 18(20.9) |
Did you consult a doctor before using CAM (n = 130)? | |
Yes | 9(6.9) |
No | 121(93.1) |
CAM related characteristics among diabetic non-users (n = 206) † | |
Reasons for not using CAM* | |
Do not believe in it | 133(64.6) |
The doctor did not prescribe it | 58(28.1) |
Afraid of the side effects | 47(22.8) |
Never heard of it | 15(7.3) |
Additional expenses and useless | 14(6.8) |
Do no need it | 12(5.8) |
Mainstream medicine is the best | 4(1.9) |
Not interested | 4(1.9) |
CAM is not evidence based | 3(1.4) |
No one advised its use | 3(1.4) |
Other*** | 3 (1.4) |
Would you consider using CAM in the future | |
Yes | 37(18.0) |
No | 169(82.0) |