Prevalence and predictive factors for complementary and alternative medicine use in Brunei Darussalam

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is common among patients with chronic disorders. CAM use is also reported to be common among the general population. This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence, types of ingested CAM use and the factors predictive of their use in Brunei Darussalam.

568 visitors (male 41.4 percent, mean age 40.2+/-15.1 years) to the medical wards were randomly approached and invited to participate in this study. Demographical data (gender, age and racial groups), comorbidities, smoking history, use of prescribed medications and psychosomatic symptoms of depression (anxiety, backache, depression, headache and insomnia) and CAM use were collected.

Overall, 21.1 percent had used CAM in the last 12 months, comprising traditional remedies (35.8 percent), vitamins/minerals supplements (19.2 percent), non-vitamins/non-minerals supplements (30 percent) and herbal remedies (3.3 percent). 11.7 percent were unsure of the CAM they had taken. On univariate analysis, older age (40 years and above) and presence of psychosomatic symptoms of depression, particularly backaches, depression, headache and insomnia, were predictive for CAM use. On multivariate analysis, only the presence of any psychosomatic symptoms of depression remained significant for CAM use (odds ratio 1.7, 95 percent confidence interval 1.1-2.6). Among those using prescribed medications, 21.9 percent were also using CAM. 21 percent of subjects without any comorbidities reported using CAM. There was no report of any adverse events.

CAM use is not uncommon. One-fifth of our subjects have used CAM within the past 12 months, even in those who do not have any comorbidity. Presence of any psychosomatic symptom of depression was predictive for CAM use. Most importantly, a proportion of the users were not even sure of what they had taken.