Hemodialysis Patients' Knowledge of, Beliefs about, and Practices in Using Complementary and Alternative Medicine: An Exploratory Study

Context . Patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) are increasingly interested in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) due to their desire to access symptom-reducing interventions, the inability of most medical teams to devote enough time to their patients, and the cost of treatments. Objectives . The aim of the study was to determine the knowledge of, beliefs about, and practices in using CAM of HD patients living in eastern Turkey. Design . The research team performed a descriptive, cross-sectional study. Setting . The study was carried out between April 2019 and June 2020 in Ataturk University Research Hospital and Regional Training and Research Hospital located in eastern Turkey. Participants . A power analysis was performed to determine the sample size of the study, with the 120 HD participants being included in the sample at the 85% confidence range. Outcome Measures . The research team prepared a questionnaire for determining the identifying characteristics of participants and their knowledge of, beliefs about, and practices in using CAM. Results . Of the 120 participants, 70.8% had information about CAM, and 60.8% of them had obtained it from their families. In general, participants had a positive opinion about CAM, and most didn't obtain approval from their physicians for the use of CAM. Among CAM methods, participants mostly used phytotherapy (80%), especially garlic (57.5%), parsley (56.7%), and linden (50%). Conclusions . Because the participants in the current study usually tended to hide the fact that they used CAM, healthcare professionals should be careful about establishing a proper and reassuring relationship with patients and avoid criticizing them for preferring these methods. Patients should be especially informed about the use of phytotherapy, especially garlic, and be warned about its potential risks.