Complementary therapy use amongst Emergency Medicine patients.

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Integrative Health
• Complementary Therapies Research

Background:

• Complementary therapies (CTs) are increasingly used by patients seeking alternative health solutions.
• Understanding CT usage patterns and patient attitudes is crucial for integrated healthcare.
• Limited data exists on CT use within Emergency Medicine settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the prevalence of CT use among Emergency Medicine patients.
• To identify the most frequently utilized CTs.
• To assess patient willingness to participate in studies on CT effectiveness in hospitals.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, cross-sectional survey was conducted with adult patients at North Shore Hospital's Emergency Care Centre.
• Data collected included demographics, CT usage, and attitudes towards CT research.
• Descriptive statistics and comparative analyses (Chi-Square/Fisher exact) were employed.

Main Results:

• Over half (56.1%) of surveyed patients reported using CTs, with vitamins/minerals (21.2%), massage (13.4%), and acupuncture (10.6%) being most common.
• A significant proportion (53.3%) of those using herbs/medicines did not disclose this to their physician.
• CT users were more likely than non-users to follow doctor's advice on CTs (71.7% vs. 55.3%) and participate in CT studies (65.0% vs. 45.4%).

Conclusions:

• A substantial percentage of Emergency Medicine patients utilize CTs, often without informing their doctors.
• The majority of these patients are receptive to physician recommendations for CTs and willing to join effectiveness studies.
• These findings suggest the feasibility of conducting CT effectiveness research within hospital environments.