Complementary and Alternative Medicine Attitudes of Gynecologic Patients: Experience in a Tertiary Clinic / Atitudes de pacientes ginecológicos em medicina alternativa e complementar: Experiência em uma clínica terciária

Abstract Objective To evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding complementary and alternative medicine methods of patients who were admitted to gynecology outpatient clinics. Methods In the present survey, a questionnaire on complementary and alternative medicine practices was applied on 1,000 women (ages between 18 and 83 years old) who were admitted to the gynecology outpatient clinic of a tertiarymaternity hospital. Demographic features and knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors about these methods were inquired in face-to-face interviews. Results While 80.7% of the total participants thought that complementary and alternative medicine was beneficial, only 37.5% of them had used these methods previously. The rate of prior knowledge on this subject was of 59.7% and the source of information was physicians for 8.5% of the patients. However, 72.4% of all participants wanted to obtain information on these methods and 93.7% wanted to be informed by physicians. In the decision tree model, having knowledge about complementary and alternative medicine was the most effective factor determining its use (p<0.001). Phytotherapy was found to be the most used method, with 91.4%. The most preferred plant was onion (18.9%), and the most common reasons for herbal use were stress (15.4%) and fatigue (15.2%). Conclusion More than one-third of the patients who applied to the gynecology outpatient clinics used one of the complementary and alternativemedicine methods at least once. As gynecologists and obstetricians, we need to be more knowledgeable about these methods to provide correct guidance to our patients for accessing accurate and effective information.

Resumo Objetivo Avaliar o conhecimento, as atitudes e os comportamentos em relação aos métodos de medicina complementar e alternativa de pacientes internadas em ambulatórios de ginecologia. Métodos Na presente pesquisa, um questionário sobre práticas de medicina complementar e alternativa foi aplicado a 1.000 mulheres (idades entre 18 e 83 anos) que foram admitidas nos ambulatórios de ginecologia de uma maternidade terciária. Características demográficas e conhecimento, atitudes e comportamentos sobre esses métodos foram investigados em entrevistas pessoais. Resultados Enquanto 80,7% do total de participantes achavam que a medicina complementar e alternativa era benéfica, apenas 37,5% deles haviam usado esses métodos anteriormente. A taxa de conhecimento prévio sobre o assunto foi de 59,7% e a fonte de informação foi médica para 8,5% dos pacientes. No entanto, 72,4% de todos os participantes queriam obter informações sobre esses métodos e 93,7% queriam ser informados por médicos. No modelo de árvore de decisão, ter conhecimento sobre medicina complementar e alternativa foi o fator mais eficaz para determinar seu uso (p<0,001). A fitoterapia foi o método mais utilizado, com 91,4%. A planta preferida foi a cebola (18,9%), e osmotivos mais comuns para o uso de ervas foram estresse (15,4%) e fadiga (15,2%). Conclusão Mais de um terço das pacientes que se inscreveram no ambulatório de ginecologia utilizaram um dos métodos de medicina complementar e alternativa pelo menos uma vez. Como ginecologistas e obstetras, precisamos ter mais conhecimento sobre estes métodos a fimde fornecer orientações corretas aos nossos pacientes para o acesso a informações precisas e eficazes.

The prevalence and risk factors of asthma and allergic diseases among working adolescents.

Certain occupational groups are known to be at particularly high risk of developing allergic diseases. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of allergic diseases among working adolescents. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire was used. Four hundred and thirty six adolescents working in motor, lathe-finish, coiffure and textile and 366 high school students as control group were enrolled to the study. Mean age was 16.8 ± 1.2 years and 82.9% of them were male. There was no significant difference among groups for ever and current wheezing while doctor diagnosed asthma was higher in lathe- finish group (p = 0.036). Family history of allergy, history of allergic rhinitis, and active smoking were found to be risk factors for asthma and related symptoms. Working in coiffure (p = 0.054), and textile (p = 0.003) were significant risk factors for ever allergic rhinitis. Working in lathe finish (p = 0.023), coiffure (p = .002), and textile (p < 0.001) were associated with a higher risk for current allergic rhinitis. Working in coiffure was a risk factor for ever eczema (p = 0.008) and doctor diagnosed eczema (p = 0.014). It was concluded that working in lathe-finish was associated with doctor diagnosed asthma and active smoking was a risk factor for asthma and related symptoms. Working in coiffure, textile and lathe- finish were risk factors for rhinitis, and working in coiffure was a risk factor for eczema. Preventive measures should be taken at the onset of employment in order to prevent or reduce the detrimental effects of exposures in these occupational groups.