The use of complementary and alternative medicine in dermatology patients in western Turkey

Authors

  • İsmet Eşer
  • Leyla Khorshid
  • Yurdanur Demir
  • Yıldız Denat

Keywords:

Alternative Medicine, Complementary Medicine, Dermatology, Turkey.

Abstract

Aim:The aims of this study were to determine the use of CAM  therapies by  dermatology patients, reasons behind this use, satisfaction and information about CAM, and any side effects.

Methods: This definitive research study was undertaken at the Dermatology Clinic of a training hospital in Western Turkey. A total of 297 patients, who applied to the dermatology polyclinic or who were admitted to the clinic, constitute the sample of the study. Chi-square tests were used to compare the demographic characteristics of those who did and did not use CAM.

Findings: The findings indicated that 21% of the individuals, all of whom had dermatological ailments, used the CAM method. The CAM was most commonly applied by individuals with dermatological ailments such as pruritis (35.5%), acne (17.7%) and alopecia (14.5%). Almost all patients herbs were used intensively. After the use of herbs, the most used method was prayer (16.2%). More than the half of the patients using alternative therapies (75.8%) reportedly did not discuss the use of CAM with their healthcare professionals.

Conclusions: Physicians and nurses could play a role in informing patients about the benefits and risks of using the CAM. Further studies and detailed examination of the beneficial and harmful effects of each method are necessary to provide more extensive and useful information on CAM methods.

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Author Biographies

İsmet Eşer

prof. dr. ismet eşer

ege üniversitesi hemşirelik yükskeokulu

Leyla Khorshid

prof. dr. ismet eşer

ege üniversitesi hemşirelik yükskeokulu

Yurdanur Demir

yrd. doç. dr. yurdanur demir

bolu sağlık yüksekokulu

Yıldız Denat

yrd. doç. dr. yıldız denat

aydın sağlık yüksekokulu

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Published

2010-02-13

How to Cite

Eşer, İsmet, Khorshid, L., Demir, Y., & Denat, Y. (2010). The use of complementary and alternative medicine in dermatology patients in western Turkey. Journal of Human Sciences, 7(1), 384–400. Retrieved from https://j-humansciences.com/ojs/index.php/IJHS/article/view/755

Issue

Section

Nursing and Midwifery