Complementary therapy use amongst Emergency Medicine patients

Assessment of complementary and alternative medicine use among patients admitted to the emergency room: a descriptive study from a Turkish hospital

Background

The main aim of this study was to assess the frequency of use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in patients admitted to the emergency room (ER). Additionally, we aimed to evaluate the socio-demographic and clinical factors associated with CAM use.

Methods

This was a descriptive study. A total of 951 patients who were admitted to the ER of a tertiary hospital between October 2018 and November 2018 were enrolled. Data were obtained using a questionnaire that was prepared by the researchers considering the literature data.

Results

The mean age of the patients was 37.98 ± 15.65 years. Of the 951 patients, 48.4% (n = 460) were female and 51.6% (n = 491) were male. The rate of patients who used CAM at least once was 47.3% (n = 450). The most frequently used CAM methods were herbal therapy (68.9%), massage (40.7%), dietary supplements (24.7%), and hijama (24.2%). Being aged 64 years or younger (p = 0.001), having an education level of university or higher (p = 0.006), having an income more than minimum wage (p = 0.016), and having a chronic disease (p = 0.003) were found to be associated with CAM use in this study.

Discussion

CAM methods were used by a considerable proportion of patients admitted to the ER. Physicians should incorporate CAM use history in their patient assessments and should provide accurate and unbiased information about CAM methods.

Use and toxicity of traditional and complementary medicine among patients seeking care at an emergency department of a teaching hospital in Malaysia

OBJECTIVE

Traditional and Complementary Medicines (TCM) are widely used worldwide, and many of them have the potential to cause toxicity, interaction with conventional medications and non-adherence to prescribed medications due to patients' preference for the TCM use. However, information regarding their use among patients seeking care at emergency departments (ED) of a healthcare facility is limited. The study aimed to evaluate the TCM use among patients attending the ED of a teaching hospital in Malaysia.

STUDY DESIGN

A sub-analysis of data from a prevalence study of medication-related visits among patients at the ED of Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia was conducted. The study took place over a period of six weeks from December 2014 to January 2015 involving 434 eligible patients. Data on demography, conventional medication, and TCM uses were collected from patient interview and the medical folders.

RESULTS

Among this cohort, 66 patients (15.2%, 95%CI 12.0, 19.0) reported concurrent TCM use. Sixteen (24.2%) of the TCM users were using more than one (1) type of TCM, and 17 (25.8%) came to the ED for medication-related reasons. Traditional Malay Medicine (TMM) was the most frequently used TCM by the patients. Five patients (7.6%) sought treatment at the ED for medical problems related to use of TCM.

CONCLUSION

Patients seeking medical care at the ED may be currently using TCM. ED-physicians should be aware of these therapies and should always ask patients about the TCM use.

The determination of Complementary and Alternative Medicine use in patients presenting at the emergency room

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine CAM use in patients presenting at the emergency room.

METHOD

This cross-sectional study was conducted with the participation of 385 patients presenting at the emergency room. Data was collected with a questionnaire between the dates 02.01.2016-31.03.2016.

RESULTS

The reasons for the presentation at the emergency room were found to be stomach ache (17.2%), vomiting nausea (14.8%), headache (11.2%), shortness of breath (10.9%), and urinary problems (9.6%). 94% of the patients presenting at the emergency room were found to use CAM methods with the methods used being prayer (82.3%), herbal medicine/tea (48.6%), and diets supplementary (9.4%). 80.9% of the patients were found not to share their CAM usage with health professionals.

CONCLUSION

In order to ensure patient safety and prevent patients from coming to harm, it is thought that encouraging patients to share their CAM use with health care professionals is very important.

Treatment of women's reproductive health conditions by Australian and New Zealand acupuncturists

BACKGROUND

Acupuncture is used by nine percent of the Australian population; however, we know relatively little about the practice of acupuncture to treat women's reproductive health in Australia and New Zealand.

METHODS

This study surveyed acupuncturists to examine their practice with treating women's reproductive health complaints. A cross sectional survey of 3406 Australian and New Zealand acupuncturists was conducted. A self-completion questionnaire explored the areas of acupuncture treatment for gynaecological pregnancy and fertility complaints.

RESULTS

Questionnaires were completed by 377 acupuncturists. Ninety-six percent of practitioners reported treating women's reproductive health conditions within the previous year. All three areas of women's reproductive health were commonly treated with 96% treating gynaecological health, 91% treating pregnancy conditions, and 90% fertility conditions. The most commonly treated gynaecological conditions were premenstrual syndrome (90.1%, 95% CI 86.2-93.0), menopause (89.4%, 95% CI 85.4-92.4) and primary dysmenorrhea (89.1%, 95% CI 85.1-92.2). Participants reported treating general fertility not related to assisted reproduction (93%, 95% CI 89.4-95.5), treatment for a diagnosed fertility related conditions (85.8%, 95% CI 81.1-89.4), and to decrease infertility related stress (86%, 95% CI 81.5-89.7). The most common pregnancy related conditions treated were nausea (90.3%, 95% CI 86.3-93.3), back or pelvic pain (89.3%, 95% CI 85.1-92.4), and prebirth labour preparation (86.8%, 95% CI 82.3-90.3).

CONCLUSION

Treating women's reproductive health complaints was commonly reported among the groups of acupuncturists in Australia and New Zealand responding to this survey; however, our findings cannot be generalised to the wider acupuncture communities in these two countries.

Integration of Acupuncture for Outpatients and Inpatients in a General Hospital in Brazil

Acupuncture and related techniques have increasingly been offered in conventional medical settings in Western societies. In Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Brazil, acupuncture has been integrated into the care pathways since October 2005. Since then, medical acupuncture has been offered for both inpatients and outpatients. Acupuncture has become an integrated therapeutic modality both for outpatients in the clinic setting and for inpatients in the wards. It has been observed that acupuncture performed in a hospital differs in specific characteristics when compared with acupuncture performed in an outpatient setting. The main differences found between inpatients and outpatients treatment are summarised and attitudes and cautionary measures to be taken into account during application of acupuncture in inpatients are suggested. Future plans for the service include offering acupuncture in the emergency ward and surgical centre. The description of this experience could encourage other hospitals to develop an acupuncture service.