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Patterns and perception of complementary and alternative medicine use by patients in western Nepal

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Abstract

Aim

This study aims to investigate the patterns of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use and perception of CAM use amongst patients attending CAM clinics in Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City (PSMC), western Nepal.

Subject and Methods

A cross-sectional survey was carried out on 501 proportionally selected patients attending 52 CAM clinics in PSMC. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires consisting of 16 questions related to demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, indications, and patient’s perception of CAM use. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis.

Results

The patients with a higher education level, higher income, and aged above 40 years were found more likely to use CAM. Belief in the advantages of CAM therapy (n = 308, 61.5%) was the most commonly perceived reason for using CAM. CAM therapies were mainly adopted for gastrointestinal problems (n = 107, 21.4%) and paralysis (n = 89, 17.8%). Most of the patients (n = 382, 76.3%) had tried allopathic treatment prior to using CAM therapy for the same indication. A total of 279 patients (55.69%) were using more than 1 type of CAM therapy where the most commonly used therapies were Ayurveda (n = 384, 76.7%) and yoga (n = 141, 28.1%). The majority of the patients (n = 425, 84.8%) reported that they would advise others to use CAM therapy.

Conclusion

Use of CAM is more common among patients with chronic conditions especially gastrointestinal disorders and paralysis for which they had already tried allopathic medicine. The majority of the patients viewed CAM as beneficial, cheaper, and free of side effects. However, studies on safety and efficacy of these CAM therapies are promptly needed in this region.

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Acknowledgment

The authors are thankful to all of the patients who participated in the survey, and the CAM practitioners who cooperated during the data collection. We also thank Professor Nabin Shrestha and Mr. Niranjan Shrestha (School of Health and Allied Sciences, Pokhara University), and Dr. P. Subish (College of Medical Sciences, Bharatpur, Nepal) for their valuable contribution to the survey.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest and the manuscript has been read and approved by all named authors and that there are no other persons who satisfied the criteria for authorship but are not listed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health and Allied Sciences, Pokhara University, Lekhnath 12, PO Box 427, Kaski, Nepal

    Tara Man Kadayat, Ganesh Bist, Anirudra Parajuli, Renu Karki, Atisammodavardhana Kaundinnyayana & Namraj Dhami

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  1. Tara Man Kadayat
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  2. Ganesh Bist
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  3. Anirudra Parajuli
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  5. Atisammodavardhana Kaundinnyayana
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Correspondence to Tara Man Kadayat.

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Kadayat, T.M., Bist, G., Parajuli, A. et al. Patterns and perception of complementary and alternative medicine use by patients in western Nepal. J Public Health 20, 297–303 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-011-0446-y

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