The use of CAM by HIV-positive patients in Thailand

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is common in the general population, including patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Our objective was to determine the frequency of use of CAM by HIV-positive patients in Thailand.

During year 2000, we performed an interview survey on 160 HIV-seropositive patients attending Out-Patient Division, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. Data were collected on prevalence and patterns of CAM use.

A total of 160 HIV-infected patients (107 males and 53 females) were included of whom 152 (95%) used CAM and 124 (78%) visited a CAM provider. The most common use CAM detected in our study was a ritual remedy from Buddhist temples (128 cases, 84%), followed by a novel regime, a biophysical approach (102 cases, 64%). Most patients used more than one CAM. The most common source of information on CAM was friends. Patients who saw CAM providers made a median of four visits to them per year, compared with 12 visits per year to their primary care physician and nurse practitioner.

CAM is frequently used by HIV-positive patients in Thailand and their physicians need to be aware of this possibility.