Use of complementary and alternative medicine in general population during COVID-19 outbreak: A survey in Iran.
10.1016/j.joim.2021.11.004
- Author:
Mahlagha DEHGHAN
1
,
2
;
Alireza GHANBARI
3
;
Fatemeh GHAEDI HEIDARI
4
;
Parvin MANGOLIAN SHAHRBABAKI
1
,
2
;
Mohammad Ali ZAKERI
5
,
6
Author Information
1. Nursing Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman 76169-13555, Iran
2. Department of Critical Care Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman 76169-13555, Iran.
3. Anesthesiology and Critical Care Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 14336-71348, Iran.
4. Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81746-73461, Iran.
5. Non-communicable Diseases Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan 77179-33777, Iran
6. Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan 77179-33777, Iran. Electronic address: Mazakeri@rums.ac.ir.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Alternative and complementary medicine;
COVID-19;
Coronavirus disease;
Cross-sectional study
- MeSH:
Adolescent;
COVID-19;
Child;
Complementary Therapies;
Cross-Sectional Studies;
Disease Outbreaks;
Humans;
Iran;
Pandemics;
SARS-CoV-2;
Surveys and Questionnaires
- From:
Journal of Integrative Medicine
2022;20(1):45-51
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE:Some epidemic diseases such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have caused many physical, psychological, and social challenges, despite the existence of treatment strategies. Many people are looking for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to prevent such diseases. The present study was performed to determine how some types of CAM were being used during the COVID-19 epidemic in Iran.
METHODS:The present study had a cross-sectional descriptive correlational design. All Iranian residents above 17 years old were eligible to participate in the study. A total of 782 participants completed a demographic information questionnaire, a questionnaire about their use of CAMs and a questionnaire about their satisfaction with the CAMs they used. Web-based sampling was conducted from 20 April 2020 to 20 August 2020.
RESULTS:Of the participants, 84% used at least one type of CAM during the COVID-19 outbreak. The most used CAMs were dietary supplements (61.3%), prayer (57.9%), and herbal medicines (48.8%). The majority of the participants (50%-66%) have used CAMs to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 or to reduce anxiety caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. CAM use was associated with sex, having children, place of residence, COVID-19 status, and source of gathering information about CAM (P < 0.05). All 32 participants who had been infected with COVID-19 used at least one type of CAM for treatment or alleviation of the disease symptoms.
CONCLUSION:During the COVID-19 outbreak, some types of CAM, particularly nutritional supplements, medicinal herbs, and prayer, were commonly used to prevent COVID-19 and reduce pandemic-related anxiety.
