Factors Predisposing to the Use of Complementary Therapies in Patients With Chronic Renal Failure

Our aim was to gather information about complementary medicine applications used by chronic renal failure patients and their relation to demographic factors.

Of 1750 chronic renal disease patients who were undergoing hemodialysis, only 450 patients attended in the study. Among 450 patients, 388 gave consent and were interviewed using a previously tested questionnaire. Questions about complementary and alternative medicine use, a list of commonly used methods, and the sources of knowledge about these were asked of all patients.

We observed a significant difference in the patients who were using complementary and alternative medicines before and after diagnosis of chronic renal disease (P < .001). We noted that 87% of the patients used complementary and alternative medicines before diagnosis and 49.8% used these after diagnosis. Among the patients who used complementary and alternative medicines, 76% had faith in these therapies. Of patients who used complementary and alternative medicines, 95% believed that the remedies or processes used were beneficial to their health. Furthermore, 71% of users had great confidence in these therapies and had no belief that these could be harmful. Of those who used complementary and alternative therapies, 51% had no idea whether these therapies were harmful. The source of knowledge was mass media tools (47%), social life (friends, relatives, neighbors, colleagues; 45%), and other patients with chronic renal disease (8%).

Complementary and alternative medicine therapies have a significant impact on patients with chronic renal disease. Doctors can warn patients about possible dangers of complementary and alternative medicine remedies and treatments.