Prevalence and factors associated with the use of complementary and alternative medicine in patients with rheumatic diseases.
Keywords:
prevalence, associated factors, complementary and alternative medicine, rheumatic diseasesAbstract
Introduction: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is part of the strategies used by patients with rheumatic diseases. In Ecuador, studying this topic is relevant due to the coexistence of biomedical, traditional, and complementary practices. Objective: To determine the prevalence of CAM use among patients with rheumatic diseases, describe the modalities used for the longest periods, and explore associations with sociodemographic and clinical characteristics.
Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted involving 147 adults diagnosed with rheumatic disease, selected via non-probability sampling. A questionnaire based on the I-CAM-Q was administered, and descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed using the chi-square or Fisher's exact test, calculating odds ratios (OR) with a significance level of p<0.05.
Results: 37.4 % of participants reported using CAM, with a predominance of "biological therapies and natural products" (38.2 %). Regarding frequency of use, the largest group consisted of those using it more than five times a week (49.1 %). Lack of formal employment was associated with higher odds of CAM use compared to formal employment (OR= 11.097; 95 % CI: 4.147–29.695). The combined category of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis showed higher odds of use than other diagnoses (OR= 2.155; 95% CI: 1.034–4.491).
Conclusions: CAM use was a common practice among the sampled patients and was associated with specific sociodemographic and clinical factors. Its use is primarily aimed at relieving persistent symptoms and focuses on natural products and body-based therapies, with a high perceived utility and a high degree of communication with specialists.
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