Health Status and the Use of Complementary and Alternative Therapies in the Community Dwelling Pre-elderly and Elderly / 재활간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify health status and the use of complementary and alternative therapies in the community dwelling pre-elderly and elderly. METHODS: A total of 193 subjects participated in this study. They were recruited from one senior welfare center, four senior citizen centers and subjects' home in two cities. Data were collected with self-reported questionnaires to measure health status and the use of complementary and alternative therapies. Data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA using SPSS/WIN 22.0. RESULTS: Health status in this subjects was different depending on their age, sex, education, religion, type of family, and average monthly living expenses. Most used items as complementary and alternative medicine are diet therapy, herbal medicine such as health supplement food therapy, vitamin therapy, and Korean folk remedies. There were statistically significant differences in using complementary and alternative therapies according to one's current health status (F=7.09, p<.001), comparing health status to peers (F=3.67, p=.013), and chronic disease having more than three months (t=-2.50, p=.013). CONCLUSION: This study suggest that individualized health care should be continued for the pre-elderly and elderly. Moreover, we need to prepare long term care plans such as educations for applying complementary and alternative therapies.

Terapias complementarias y alternativas en VIH/SIDA / Complementary and alternative therapies in HIV/AIDS

A pesar de ser una prioridad mundial, ONUSIDA en el 2004 reporta que sólo un 10 por ciento de las personas viviendo con VIH o SIDA en el mundo tiene acceso a los medicamentos antirretrovirales (TAR), único tratamiento que ha demostrado disminución de la mortalidad de las personas que viven con VIH y SIDA. A pesar de ello, la utilización de TAR conlleva efectos adversos inmediatos y mediatos que conducen a otras patologías crónicas. El presente estudio bibliográfico describe la literatura disponible sobre terapias complementarias y alternativas (CAM) al tratamiento convencional (TAR) utilizadas por las personas que viven con VIH/SIDA. En general, estudios sobre el uso de CAM son escasos, además, no son precisos al describir su utilización, encontrándose reportes entre un 40 y un 70 por ciento para residentes en Europa y Norteamérica. En estos también se enfatiza la falta de aceptación del CAM por los profesionales de salud que proveen de medicamentos antirretrovirales convencionales, propiciando que los pacientes omitan el uso concomitante de ambas terapias. Además, la falta de conocimiento sobre el uso de CAM en profesionales de salud que ofrecen tratamiento convencional, no favorece una atención apropiada, debido al desconocimiento de posibles interacciones entre ambas terapias, sumado a la falta de evidencia científica de buena calidad que justifique su uso. Si bien existen aún muchos déficit en evidencia, las personas viviendo con VIH y SIDA reportan un alto uso de CAM debido a sus efectos terapéuticos, principalmente en el mejoramiento de su percepción de calidad de vida y efectos colaterales del tratamiento antiretroviral. Es necesario ampliar las investigaciones locales para hacer del uso del CAM una herramienta apropiada y segura en el tratamiento de personas viviendo con VIH.

In spite of being a world-wide priority, only a 10 percent of the people living with HIV and AIDS have access to the antiretroviral treatments (ART), although is the only treatment to diminish the mortality of the affected group, its use is not free of immediate and long-term adverse effects that lead to other chronic pathologies. The present bibliographical study has the objective to analyze the literature available on complementary and alternative therapies (CAM) used by the people who live with HIV and AIDS. It is reported that 40 - 70 percent of the population living with HIV in developed countries use some type of CAM. Literature demonstrates a little development of research in the area and reports lack of acceptance of CAM in conventional medicine, originating that often users do not inform. In addition, the lack of knowledge on the use of CAM in health professionals who offer conventional treatment is detrimental for adequate care, due to ignorance of possible interactions between both therapies and lack of scientific evidence of good quality justifying its use. Although many deficits in evidence still exist, the people living with HIV report a high use of CAM due to their therapeutic effects, mainly in the improvement of their perception of quality of life and collateral effects of antiretroviral treatment. It is necessary to extend local research to the use of CAM as an appropriate and safe tool in the treatment of people living with VIH.

Nurses' Perceptions and Experiences with Complementary and Alternative Therapies / 기본간호학회지

PURPOSE: Complementary and alternative therapies(CAT) are defined as those treatments and healthcare practices not taught widely in medical schools, not generally used in hospitals, and not usually reimbursed by health care insurance. Recently, CAT have become increasingly popular with health care consumers and health care professionals. This study investigated nurses' perceptions and experiences with CAT. METHOD: 124 nurses who were working in university hospitals in Seoul and Inchon were randomly selected as participants for this study. They answered open and closed questionnaires on their perceptions and experiences with CAT. RESULTS: Most of the subjects recognized the existence of CAT (86.3%), and expected a treatment effect from CAT when it is combined with conventional therapy (84.7%). Nurses accepted CAT positively as complement for conventional therapy and useful modalities of psychological support when its effects have been proven scientifically. Forty nurses (32.3%) had learned CAT including soojichim, aroma therapy, relaxation, meditation, music therapy, massage, and acupressure. Eight nurses (6.5%) used CAT with patients including soojichim, hand massage, relaxation, and music therapy. CONCLUSION: In spite of the nurses' positive perceptions of CAT, the nurses' professional experiences were quite limited. Nurses need authorized training programs and continuing education opportunities in CAT. This would increase their ability to use CAT. But to improve scientific knowledge more evidence based research is.