Publication: The utilization of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine for non-communicable diseases and mental disorders in health care patients in Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam
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Issued Date
2016
Resource Type
Language
eng
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Mahidol University
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BioMed Central
Bibliographic Citation
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Vol.16, (2016), 92
Suggested Citation
Peltzer, Karl, Supa Pengpid, Apa Puckpinyo, Siyan Yi, Le Vu Anh The utilization of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine for non-communicable diseases and mental disorders in health care patients in Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Vol.16, (2016), 92. doi:10.1186/s12906-016-1078-0 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/3134
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Title
The utilization of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine for non-communicable diseases and mental disorders in health care patients in Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam
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Abstract
Background: The purpose of our study was to determine the prevalence of traditional, complementary and
alternative medicine (TCAM) use in patients with chronic diseases in lower Mekong countries.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a health care setting using a random sample of 4799 adult
patients (Mean age: 52.3 years, SD = 22.7) with chronic diseases in Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand. The measure
included the International Questionnaire to measure usage of complementary and alternative medicine (I-CAM).
Results: The 1 year prevalence of consulting TCAM providers was 26.0 %; 27.0 % in Cambodia, 26.3 % in Thailand,
23.9 % in Vietnam. The most commonly consulted TCAM providers were the herbalist (17.3 %), massage therapist
(6.0 %), and acupuncturist (5.5 %). For all different types of TCAM providers more than 80 % of participants
perceived the consultation as very or somewhat helpful. The own use of herbal medicine was 41.0 %, own use of
vitamins 26.5 % and the own use of other supplements 9.7 % in the past 12 months. The most common self-help
practices in the past 12 months included praying for your own health (30.1 %), meditation (13.9 %) and relaxation
techniques (9.9 %). In multivariate logistic regression analyses, older age, rural residence and having two or more
chronic conditions was associated with the use a TCAM provider; being female, urban residence, residing in
Vietnam and having two or more chronic conditions was associated with the use of TCAM products; and being
female, older age, rural residence, higher formal education, and residing in Cambodia was associated with the use
of TCAM self-help practices.
Conclusions: TCAM use is common among chronic disease patients in lower Mekong countries and is associated
with several sociodemographic and disease specific factors.