J Korean Acad Fam Med.  2005 Apr;26(4):203-210.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Use and Its Determining Factors among Patients with Rheumatic Disorder in Korea

• Yoon TH
• Park HK
• Han DW
• Bae SC
• Moon OR

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There is a wide spread increase in the use of CAM by patients with rheumatic disease. This study was performed to identify the prevalence of CAM use and determining factors affecting CAM use by patients with rheumatic disease.
METHODS
From October 23 to November 31 in 2003, face-to-face structured interviews were conducted in a rheumatology hospital in Seoul. A total of 182 patients with rheumatic disease, who visited the hospital, participated.
RESULTS
CAM was used by 59.3% (95% CI=52.1~66.2%) of the patients with rheumatic disease. The most common use of CAM was traditional Chinese medicine such as acupuncture and herbs. Demographic variables were not predictive for the use of CAM. As the duration of disease was longer, probability on CAM use was lower (odd ratio: 0.922, 95% CI=0.855~0.994). CAM use on disabled people who registered were 4.623 (95% CI=1.105~19.348) times higher than non-disabled.
CONCLUSION
CAM use is common in patients with rheumatic disease. The duration of disease and physical disability were the influencing factors for using CAM. These findings support a need for outcome studies on the effectiveness of CAM in rheumatic disease, as well as the improvement of providing patients with information on CAM usage.

Keyword

complementary and alternative medicine; medical care use; rheumatology

MeSH Terms

Acupuncture
Complementary Therapies*
Humans
Korea*
Medicine, Chinese Traditional
Outcome Assessment (Health Care)
Prevalence
Rheumatic Diseases
Rheumatology
Seoul