Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use and Attitudes among Diabetes Patients in Primary Care: A Cross-Sectional...

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is frequently used by individuals with chronic diseases, including diabetes mellitus. However, data regarding CAM use and attitudes among patients with diabetes in primary care settings remain limited, particularly in community-based populations.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 363 patients aged 18 years and older who were recruited through consecutive convenience sampling at family health centers and who presented for any reason between July and August 2023. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews. Instruments included a structured questionnaire (assessing sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and CAM-related variables) and the Complementary, Alternative, and Conventional Medicine Attitudes Scale (CACMAS).

Of the participants, 61.2% were female, the mean age was 59.8 ± 11.3 years, and the mean duration of diabetes was 9.2 ± 6.2 years. While 51.2% of participants were aware of CAM, 28.1% reported using at least one CAM modality - most frequently cupping and acupuncture - within the previous 12 months. The median CACMAS score was 97.0 (Q1-Q3: 90.0-108.0; range: 45.0-176.0). Higher CACMAS scores were observed among participants aged <65 years (p = 0.008), those with higher educational attainment (p = 0.001), higher income levels (p = 0.004), insulin users (p = 0.002), and CAM users (p < 0.001). In the multivariable regression analysis, higher monthly income remained the only variable associated with higher CACMAS scores (B = 5.82, 95% CI: 0.28-11.37, p = 0.040).

In this cross-sectional primary care sample, CAM use and attitudes were associated with several sociodemographic and clinical characteristics; however, in the adjusted analysis, higher income was the only variable associated with more favorable CAM attitudes. As family physicians are often the first point of contact for individuals with diabetes, routinely inquiring about CAM use may support patient-centered care and facilitate communication between patients and healthcare providers. These findings reflect associations within the study sample rather than population-level prevalence estimates.