Alternative versus traditional medicine use among adults: Sharja -United Arab Emirates, 2009

ABSTRACT

Alternative medicine is increasing interest and acceptance among the general population. Although usage is thought to be widespread among patients, little studies have been done. The current study aimed to identify the types of alternative medicine, determine the medical problems for uses of alternative medicine and study the alternative medicine and its relation to some sociodemographic factors. A cross sectional study was carried out in the Alternative Medicine Clinic of Sharja. All the attended patients to the clinic during two months [March and April], 2009 was included in the study, the total number reached was 725 patients. The data was collected through interviewing questionnaire. It included the socio-demographic age, gender, educational level, monthly income, and occupation. Also types and reasons for use of alternative medicine. The results showed that the males outnumbered females [56.7% and43.3% respectively], their mean age was 38.51 +/- 10.66 year. Arabic constituted 56.1%of the sample while local represented 31.0%. University or higher level of education was detected for almost half of the participants, and more than two-thirds of the participants are married, The most common medical problems for using alternative/ complementary medicine was chronic pain [40.1%] followed by headache [15.5%], general weakness and fatigue [12.2%], hypertension [7.3%], diabetes mellitus [5.5%] and the lowest percentage of use was observed among patients with cancers or eye diseases [1.1% for each]. The present study point to alternative medicine use more prevalent among young male who are more educated. Alternative medicine users are more likely to have chronic medical conditions e.g. chronic pain followed by headache. The increasing use of Alternative medicine may necessitate a need for the implementation of a surveillance system to report and monitor possible adverse events of all types of alternative medicine