Knowledge, attitude, and practice of Iranian adults toward Persian Medicine: a national survey.

BACKGROUND: Previous researches conducted in both developed and developing countries have demonstrated a rising trend in the utilization of complementary and alternative medicine. The World Health Organization has underscored the importance of studying the prevalence and determinants of such alternative practices. This study delves into the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Iranian adults towards Persian medicine, a distinct form of complementary and alternative medicine, through a national survey for the first time. METHODS: A total of 2882 Iranian adults (aged ≥ 15 years) were randomly chosen from all regions. Data were gathered through structured door-to-door interviews using a survey questionnaire, wherein cases were selected randomly based on postal codes, and interviewers completed the forms at the participants' residences. RESULTS: Approximately 46% of the subjects exhibited familiarity with Persian Medicine. The study revealed that the primary sources of knowledge about Persian Medicine were family, relatives, and friends, with only 2.9% indicating medical staff as their source of information. Furthermore, the study indicated that 21% of participants expressed a strong interest in using Persian Medicine, while 30.3% did not. When comparing Persian medicine to modern medicine, respondents indicated that Persian medicine is more cost-effective and has fewer side effects, yet modern medicine is more widely used globally; although, the majority responded "I don't know" to other questions. The results also demonstrated that approximately 37% of the participants had a history of Persian Medicine utilization in their lifetime. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that Iranian adults have low reliable knowledge (from medical staff, Persian medicine books and other publications) and limited familiarity with Persian medicine, with about one third of the participants expressing disinterest (attitude) and over half of them having not utilized this form of medicine (practice).

Adults with depressive symptoms have lower odds of dietary supplement use.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aim to evaluate dietary supplement and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in individuals with depressive symptoms. Furthermore, we conducted a comparative analysis of the usage of these agents among individuals with depressive symptoms, differentiating between those who were using antidepressants and those who were not. Additionally, we compared individuals with depressive symptoms who were not using antidepressants with participants who did not have depressive symptoms as well as individuals with depressive symptoms who were using antidepressants with individuals without depressive symptoms. METHOD: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2018 data was collected. Depressive symptoms were assessed using patient health questionnaire-9. Dietary supplement and antidepressants use was evaluated using Dietary Supplement Use and Prescription Medications Questionnaires. RESULTS: 31,445 participants, with 2870 (8.05%) having depressive symptoms were included. Participants with depressive symptoms had significantly lower odds of dietary supplement use compared with those without depressive symptoms (aOR = 0.827, 95% CI: 0.700,0.977, p = 0.026). Participants with depressive symptoms who were using antidepressants had significantly higher odds of dietary supplement (aOR = 1.290, 95% CI: 1.038,1.604, p = 0.022) compared with participants with depressive symptoms who were not using antidepressants. Furthermore, Participants with depressive symptoms who weren't using antidepressants had significantly lower odds of dietary supplement use (aOR = 0.762, 95% CI: 0.632,0.918, p = 0.005) compared with participants without depressive symptoms. In individuals with treated depressive symptoms compared to those without depressive symptoms, CAM use was significantly lower (aOR = 0.763, 95% CI = 0.598,0.973, p = 0.030). CONCLUSION: Individuals with depressive symptoms have lower odds of dietary supplement use. Further studies are needed to replicate these findings and examine the underlying mechanisms for this association.

Knowledge, perception, attitude, and practice of complementary and alternative medicine by health care workers in Garki hospital Abuja, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers are currently making efforts to offer services that cater to the holistic care needs of their patients. Previous studies have shown that some healthcare workers encounter challenges when advising patients about Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), even though its use is widespread. Many health care workers may not have received formal education or training in CAM and consequently are unable to address their patients' questions about it. This study explored the knowledge, perception, attitude and practice of CAM by healthcare workers in Garki Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria. METHODS: This was an institution-based cross-sectional study, design and a convergent parallel, mixed methods design was used for data collection. Five (5) healthcare workers were purposively selected as participants for the key informant interviews, while two hundred and fifty (250) selected using a simple random sampling method completed the questionnaire. The data collection instruments used were a key informant interview guide and a 35-item self-administered questionnaire. Knowledge was assessed with a 4-item scale with a maximum score of 8. Perceptions and attitudes were assessed using Likert scales with a maximum score of 45 and 20, respectively. Practice was assessed with a 6-item scale with a maximum score of 18. Qualitative data was analysed using framework analysis. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Data acquired from both methods were integrated to form the findings. RESULTS: The average age of respondents for the quantitative study was 34.0 ± 7.8 years, and they were predominantly females (61.2%) with one to ten years of work experience (68.8%). The mean knowledge, perception and attitude scores were 1.94 ± 1.39, 13.08 ± 2.34 and 32.68 ± 6.28, respectively. Multiple linear regression result showed that knowledge (t = 2.025, p = 0.044) and attitude (t = 5.961, p = 0.000) had statistically significant effects on the practice of CAM. Qualitative data revealed that the majority of the participants perceive CAM favourably, provided it is properly introduced into mainstream medicine with evidence of safety and research to prove its efficacy. CONCLUSION: The study has shown the gaps in knowledge and the practices of CAM by conventional medical practitioners. This has implications for their ability to counsel and refer patients who may require CAM therapies. Policy, research and programmatic initiatives that seek to enhance their knowledge of CAM, and improve collaboration with CAM practitioners are recommended.

The Use of Natural Therapies in Patients With Skin Cancer: A Scoping Review.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use has become a field of growing interest in dermatology. However, the prevalence of CAM use is difficult to quantify as it varies based on many factors. Given the exploratory nature of the topic, a scoping review was conducted to identify studies that quantify biologically based CAM use in skin cancer patients. A comprehensive search of Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science databases from inception to August 28th, 2023, was performed. A total of 3,150 articles were identified through the database search. After article screening, 6 studies were suitable for inclusion in this review. Articles included were all questionnaire, survey, or interview style. Biologically based CAM use is prevalent in skin cancer patients. It can be associated with many factors such as location, stage of cancer, and age. CAM use can interact with conventional therapy; therefore, physicians should employ a culturally competent approach to inquiring about CAM use in order to improve patient outcomes and identify patterns and predictors of use.J Drugs Dermatol. 2024;23(5):322-326. doi:10.36849/JDD.8077.

Complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine researchers' practices and perceived barriers related to open science: An international, cross-sectional survey.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Open science (OS) aims to make the dissemination of knowledge and the research process transparent and accessible to everyone. With the increasing popularity of complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine (CAIM), our goal was to explore what are CAIM researchers' practices and perceived barriers related to OS. METHODS: We conducted an anonymous online survey of researchers who published in journals listed in Scopus containing the words "complementary", "alternative", or "integrative" medicine in their names. We emailed 6040 researchers our purpose-built electronic survey after extracting their email address from one of their publications in our sample of journals. We questioned their familiarity with different OS concepts, along with their experiences and challenges engaging in these practices over the last 12 months. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 392 researchers (6.5% response rate, 97.1% completion rate). Most respondents were CAIM researchers familiar with the overall concept of OS, indicated by those actively publishing open access (OA) (n = 244, 76.0%), registering a study protocol (n = 148, 48.0%), and using reporting guidelines (n = 181, 59.0%) in the past 12 months. Preprinting, sharing raw data, and sharing study materials were less popular. A lack of funding was reported as the greatest barrier to publishing OA by most respondents (n = 252, 79.0%), and that additional funding is the most significant incentive in applying more OS practices to their research (n = 229,72.2%). With respect to preprinting barriers, 36.3% (n = 110) participants believed there are potential harms in sharing non-peer-reviewed work and 37.0% (n = 112) feared preprinting would reduce the likelihood of their manuscript being accepted by a journal. Respondents were also concerned about intellectual property control regarding sharing data (n = 94, 31.7%) and research study materials (n = 80, 28.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Although many participants were familiar with and practiced aspects of OS, many reported facing barriers relating to lack of funding to enable OS and perceived risks of revealing research ideas and data prior to publication. Future research should monitor the adoption and implementation of OS interventions in CAIM.

Investigating the nature of open science practices across complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine journals: An audit.

BACKGROUND: Open science practices are implemented across many scientific fields to improve transparency and reproducibility in research. Complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine (CAIM) is a growing field that may benefit from adoption of open science practices. The efficacy and safety of CAIM practices, a popular concern with the field, can be validated or refuted through transparent and reliable research. Investigating open science practices across CAIM journals by using the Transparency and Openness Promotion (TOP) guidelines can potentially promote open science practices across CAIM journals. The purpose of this study is to conduct an audit that compares and ranks open science practices adopted by CAIM journals against TOP guidelines laid out by the Center for Open Science (COS). METHODS: CAIM-specific journals with titles containing the words "complementary", "alternative" and/or "integrative" were included in this audit. Each of the eight TOP criteria were used to extract open science practices from each of the CAIM journals. Data was summarized by the TOP guideline and ranked using the TOP Factor to identify commonalities and differences in practices across the included journals. RESULTS: A total of 19 CAIM journals were included in this audit. Across all journals, the mean TOP Factor was 2.95 with a median score of 2. The findings of this study reveal high variability among the open science practices required by journals in this field. Four journals (21%) had a final TOP score of 0, while the total scores of the remaining 15 (79%) ranged from 1 to 8. CONCLUSION: While several studies have audited open science practices across discipline-specific journals, none have focused on CAIM journals. The results of this study indicate that CAIM journals provide minimal guidelines to encourage or require authors to adhere to open science practices and there is an opportunity to improve the use of open science practices in the field.

Evaluating Oral Probiotic Supplements as Complementary Treatment in Advanced Lung Cancer Patients Receiving ICIs: A Prospective Real-World Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of oral probiotic supplements in patients undergoing immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for the treatment of advanced lung cancer. METHODS: This prospective real-world study enrolled patients with advanced lung cancer who were receiving ICIs as part of their treatment. The patients were divided into 2 groups: Group OPS received oral probiotic supplements along with ICIs, while Group C did not. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). The secondary outcome measure was the objective response rate (ORR). RESULTS: A total of 253 patients were included in the study, with 71 patients in Group OPS and 182 patients in the control group (Group C). No significant differences were observed in the median PFS between the 2 groups for all patients. However, for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients, the median PFS was significantly better in the Group OPS compared to the Group C (11.1 months vs 7.0 months, P = .049). No significant differences were observed in median PFS for the non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cohort between the 2 groups, but a trend towards better median PFS in Group OPS was noticed (16.5 months vs 12.3 months, P = .56). The ORR for the entire cohort was 58.0%. CONCLUSION: Oral probiotics supplements in combination with ICIs included regimen may improve the outcome in patients with advanced SCLC. The above points should be proved by further study.

This study examined whether the addition of oral probiotic supplements to ICIs could enhance the treatment of advanced lung cancer. A total of 253 patients with advanced lung cancer were involved in the study, with some receiving probiotics in combination with ICIs and others not. The findings revealed that patients with SCLC who took probiotics had significantly better PFS compared to those who did not. Additionally, there was a tendency towards enhanced PFS in NSCLC patients who received probiotics. In conclusion, the study indicates that incorporating oral probiotics with ICIs may lead to better outcomes for patients with advanced SCLC, although further research is necessary to validate these results.This real world study explores whether oral probiotic supplements along with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can help treat advanced lung cancer. The study included 253 patients with advanced lung cancer receiving ICIs treatment, part of them taking probiotics along with ICIs. The results showed that patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) who took probiotics had better progression-free survival (PFS) compared to those who didn't. There was also a trend towards better PFS in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who took probiotics. Overall, the study suggests that taking oral probiotics along with ICIs may improve outcomes for patients with advanced SCLC, but more research is needed to confirm these findings.

Research hotspots and trends of complementary and alternative therapy for neuropathic pain: A bibliometric analysis.

BACKGROUND: Neuropathic pain (NP) is a common type of pain in clinic. Due to the limited effect of drug treatment, many patients with NP are still troubled by this disease. In recent years, complementary and alternative therapy (CAT) has shown good efficacy in the treatment of NP. As the interest in CAT for NP continues to grow, we conducted a bibliometric study of publications on CAT treatment for NP. The aim of this study is to analyze the development overview, research hotspots and future trends in the field of CAT and NP through bibliometric methodology, so as to provide a reference for subsequent researchers. METHODS: Publications on CAT in the treatment of NP from 2002 to 2022 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Relevant countries, institutions, authors, journals, keywords, and references were analyzed bibliometrically using Microsoft Excel 2021, bibliometric platform, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace. RESULTS: A total of 898 articles from 46 countries were published in 324 journals, and they were contributed by 4455 authors from 1102 institutions. The most influential country and institution are China (n = 445) and Kyung Hee University (n = 63), respectively. Fang JQ (n = 27) and Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (n = 63) are the author and journal with the most publications in this field. The clinical efficacy, molecular biological mechanisms and safety of CAT for NP are currently hot directions. Low back pain, postherpetic neuralgia, acupuncture, and herbal are the hot topics in CAT and NP in recent years. CONCLUSION: This study reveals the current status and hotspots of CAT for NP. The study also indicates that the effectiveness and effect mechanism of acupuncture or herbs for treating emotional problems caused by low back pain or postherpetic neuralgia may be a trend for future research.

Responses to the correspondence from McDowell et al.'s on CAM integrative review of health care professionals in New Zealand.

The authors of the manuscript 'Complementary and alternative medicine - practice, attitudes, and knowledge among healthcare professionals in New Zealand: an integrative review' [1] disagree with the assertion by McDowell et al. that our manuscript has extrapolation errors.

Extrapolation errors in Liu et al.'s CAM integrative review of health care professionals in New Zealand.

This letter is to highlight errors made by Liu et al. in their 2020 paper in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, "Complementary and alternative medicine-practice, attitudes, and knowledge among healthcare professionals in New Zealand: an integrative review". Substantial errors in their citation of the recent research and methodology by McDowell, Kohut & Betts (2019) pertaining to the practice of acupuncture in New Zealand by physiotherapists are presented. The actual results of McDowell et al.'s work and the true state of acupuncture use by their sample group is reported.

Recomendaciones sobre el manejo clínico de la alopecia androgénica: un documento de consenso del Grupo Español de Tricología de la Academia Española de Dermatología y Venereología / Recommendations on the Clinical Management of Androgenetic Alopecia: A Consensus Statement From the Spanish Trichology Group of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venererology (AEDV)

El tratamiento de la alopecia androgénica (AGA) puede ser complejo para el clínico debido a la amplia gama de terapias disponibles, en muchos casos con escasos ensayos clínicos disponibles, y con muchas de las opciones de tratamiento sin aprobación de uso en la AGA según su ficha técnica. Este documento de consenso sobre el manejo de la AGA se ha elaborado siguiendo un método Delphi, en el que han participado 34 dermatólogos miembros del Grupo Español de Tricología de la Academia Española de Dermatología y Venereología. Tras 2 rondas de votaciones, se consensuaron 138 de los 160 ítems propuestos (86%), estructurados en 4 bloques de recomendaciones: generalidades, tratamiento farmacológico, procedimientos y trasplante capilar, y casos especiales. Este documento de consenso se apoya en la evidencia científica disponible y en la opinión de expertos para ayudar a los profesionales en el manejo de la AGA en la práctica clínica diaria.(AU)

Androgenetic alopecia can be challenging to treat due to the wide range of available treatments, most of which are not based on evidence from clinical trials. In addition many of the options do not include androgenetic alopecia among the approved indications according to their summaries of product characteristics. A panel of 34 dermatologists from the Spanish Trichology Society of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV) used the Delphi method to develop a consensus statement on the management of androgenetic alopecia. Over a 2-round process the experts agreed on 138 (86%) of the 160 proposed items, which were structured into 4 blocks of recommendations: general considerations, pharmacologic treatment, procedures and hair transplant, and special cases. The resulting consensus statement based on expert opinion of the scientific evidence can guide professionals in the routine management of androgenetic alopecia.(AU)

Efectos de Cinnamomum zeylanicum en niveles glucémicos en pacientes con diabetes tipo 2: ensayo clínico aleatorizado / Effects of Cinnamomum zeylanicum on glycemic levels in patients with type 2 diabetes: Randomized clinical trial

Objetivo: Evaluar el efecto del consumo de suplemento de Cinnamomum zeylanicum (canela) en los niveles glucémicos de adultos mexicanos con diabetes tipo 2. Métodos: Se realizó un ensayo clínico aleatorizado simple ciego con 30 pacientes >18 años con diabetes tipo 2, se aleatorizaron en los grupos: intervención y control; donde consumieron cápsulas con 2 gramos de C. zeylanicum o harina de trigo (placebo) diario por 12 semanas y se midieron variables antropométricas y bioquímicas (HbA1c, GPa, triglicéridos, colesterol total, HDL y LDL). Se utilizó el software IBM SPSS versión 23 y se aplicó la prueba T-Student y U-Mann Withney para muestras independientes (según el comportamiento de la variable) para las diferencias entre grupos, valores p<0.05 fueron considerados estadísticamente significativos. Resultados: No se observaron cambios significativos en HbA1c entre grupos (p>0.05). Sin embargo, post-tratamiento el grupo intervención disminuyó significativamente HbA1c al compararlo con su línea base (-0.41%, p=0.01) mientras que no se encontraron diferencias en el grupo control (+0.03%, p=0.64). No hubo diferencias significativas en variables antropométricas ni bioquímicas. Conclusiones: El consumo de 2 g de C. zeylanicum en mexicanos con diabetes tipo 2 no produjo cambios significativos entre grupos. Se sugieren nuevos estudios donde se evalúe el suplemento de canela con una muestra mayor. ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT04023539. (AU)

Objective: To evaluate the effect of Cinnamomum zeylanicum (cinnamon) supplement use on the glycemic levels of Mexican adults with type 2 diabetes. Methods: A single-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted with 30 patients over 18 years of age with type 2 diabetes. They were randomized into intervention and control groups where they took 2-gram capsules of Cinnamomum zeylanicum or wheat flour (placebo) daily for 12 weeks; then the anthropometric and biochemical variables HbA1c, FPG, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL and LDL were measured. IBM SPSS version 23 software was used and the Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney U test for independent samples (according to the behavior of the variable) were applied for differences between groups, p-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: No significant changes in HbA1c were seen between the two groups (p>0.05). However, post-treatment, the HbA1c value in the intervention group decreased significantly when compared to their baseline (-0.41%, p=0.01), while no differences were found in the control group (+0.03%, p=0.64). There were no significant differences in the anthropometric or biochemical variables. Conclusions: The consumption of 2 g of Cinnamomum zeylanicum in Mexican people with type 2 diabetes did not produce significant changes between the groups. New studies evaluating cinnamon supplementation on a larger sample size are suggested. ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT04023539. (AU)

Infección de prótesis aórtica abdominal: tratamiento alternativo / Infected abdominal aortic prosthesis: an alternative therapy

Introducción: la infección de prótesis aórtica en la cirugía vascular convencional es un evento catastrófico, con una alta tasa de morbilidad y de mortalidad. El tratamiento tradicional ha sido la remoción de la prótesis y la reconstrucción con bypass extraanatómico. En algunos casos, se ha llevado a cabo el reemplazo con prótesis impregnadas en antibiótico; en otros, el reemplazo con vena femoral superficial y también la cirugía abierta con drenaje de las colecciones asociadas y antibioticoterapia de por vida. Caso clínico: se presenta el reporte de un caso de infección protésica tratada con drenajes de las colecciones y antibioticoterapia de larga duración, con un resultado favorable un año después de su complicación. Discusión: en algunos casos, dada la severidad del paciente, es posible intentar un tratamiento conservador de esta nefasta complicación.(AU)

Introduction: in traditional vascular surgery, aortic prosthesis infection is a catastrophic event with high morbidity andmortality rates. Traditional treatment is the removal of the valve followed by extra-anatomic bypass reconstruction. Insome cases, antibiotic-impregnated prosthesis replacement has been performed. In others, superficial femoral veinreplacement, and open surgery with drainage of the associated collections and lifelong antibiotic therapy.Case report: this is the case of a patient with aortic prosthesis infection undergoing draining collections and lifelongantibiotic therapy with a favorable outcome 1 year after the complication.Discussion: in some cases, given the severity of the patient, we can try to treat this dreaded complication conservativel.(AU)

Alteraciones cognitivas asociadas al tratamiento de hormonoterapia en pacientes con cáncer de mama: una revisión sistemática / Cognitive alterations associated with hormone therapy in patients with breast cancer: A systematic review

Objetivo: determinar las alteraciones cognitivas asociadas al tratamiento de hormonoterapia en pacientes con cáncer de mama. Método: el presente trabajo consiste en una revisión sistemática de estudios experimentales internacionales sobre los efectos de la hormonoterapia en las funciones cognitivas en mujeres con cáncer de mama, siguiendo la declaración PRISMA. Para su selección se han seguido unos criterios metodológicos estrictos, incluyendo únicamente estudios longitudinales con evaluaciones de línea base y/o grupo control. Resultados: a pesar de las discrepancias descritas, los resultados muestran deterioro significativo en memoria verbal, funciones ejecutivas, aprendizaje verbal y velocidad de procesamiento. Conclusiones: de cara a futuras investigaciones se recomienda utilizar unos criterios metodológicos más estrictos y realizar seguimientos a largo plazo, teniendo en cuenta que la media de administración de estos tratamientos oscila entre 5 y 10 años.(AU)

Objective: to determine the cognitive alterations associated with hormone therapy in breast cancer patients. Methods: the present work consists of a systematic review of international experimental studies on the effects of hormone therapy on cognitive functions in women with breast cancer, following the PRISMA statement. Strict methodological criteria were followed for its selection, including only longitudinal studies with baseline and/or control group evaluations. Results: despite the discrepancies described, the results show significant impairment in verbal memory, executive functions, verbal learning, and processing speed. Conclusions: for future research it is recommended to use stricter methodological criteria and to carry out long-term follow-ups, considering that the average time of administration of these treatments’ ranges between 5 and 10 year.(AU)

A preliminary, quantitative study on the use of traditional and complementary medicine by cancer patients seen at the Senkatana oncology clinic, Maseru, Lesotho.

BACKGROUND: The use of traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) by cancer patients remains common in several countries especially in the Sub-Saharan Africa. However, the reasons for use are complex and change with time and geographic location, they may vary from therapy to therapy, and they are different from one individual to another. The use of TCM has been associated with active coping behaviour and a way through which patients take control of their own health. However, cancer patients do not disclose their use of TCM to the attending healthcare professionals and therefore the effects of these medicines on the patients may not be ascertained. AIM: To investigate the use of traditional and complementary medicines among patients diagnosed with cancer. METHODS: A cross-sectional, quantitative study was conducted at Senkatana Oncology clinic in May to June 2023. Cancer patients underwent standardized, quantitative interviews using structured questionnaires about their use of TCM. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. Logistic regression analysis was also used to identify factors associated with satisfaction with the performance of TCM. RESULTS: All interviewed patients (n = 50, 100%) reported to be using TCM. Patients consisted of 24 females (48%) and 26 males (52%) in the age range 14 to 82 years old. The majority of the study population was in the age group 35-44 years old. The most prevalent cancer among participating males was prostate cancer and among females was cervical cancer. Biological products use was the most prominent with the highest average percentage usage (14.7%). The majority of patients (66%, n = 33) indicated that they just wanted to try everything that could help. Patients (n = 47, 94%) further reported that they had been using complementary medicine during the same period as they were using conventional treatment so that both may work to help each other. Neither gender nor age predicted satisfaction with the performance of traditional and complementary medicine. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that all interviewed cancer patients use TCM. Patients indicated that one of the reasons for using TCM was that they wanted to try everything that could help in their cancer care. Patients further reported that they did not inform their oncologist of their concurrent use of TCM because they had been advised not to use other medicines besides what they are given at the clinic.

Evaluation of the Effects of Gastro Protect as an Alternative Medicine on Gastritis and Other Gastrointestinal Symptoms.

INTRODUCTION: The use of herbal medicine as a part of the Complementary and Alternative Medicine is increasing worldwide. Herbal remedies are used to better different conditions including gastritis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective randomized control clinical trial on a total sample of 72 patients with gastritis in order to examine the effects of the commercial herbal product Gastro Protect. After 6 weeks of conventional therapy the patients were divided into two groups with 36 patients each. As a continuation of the treatment, Group 1 received conventional therapy + Gastro Protect and Group 2 received conventional therapy + Placebo. We analyzed 14 selected gastrointestinal symptoms, five related to digestive problems, and nine related to stool and bowel problems. For assessing the selected symptoms we used seven point gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS). RESULTS: The Gastro Protect group had a significantly lower GSRS score (better condition) compared to the Placebo group related to all five selected symptoms of digestive problems as: abdominal pain (p=0.0250), hunger pain (p=0.0276), nausea (p=0.0019), heartburn (p=0.00001), and acid reflux (p=0.0017). The Gastro Protect group, also had a significantly lower GSRS score (better condition) compared to the Placebo group related to three out of nine selected bowel symptoms: rumbling (p=0.0022), abdominal distension (p=0.0029), and gas or flatus (p=0.0039). CONCLUSION: Gastro protect was effective in treating gastritis and other gastrointestinal symptoms. It was safe for usage and showed almost no side effects. In our study, Gastro Protect reduced the examined gastric symptoms and related examined intestinal symptoms.

Music Nursing as Complementary Therapy Improves Anxiety, Fatigue, and Quality of Life in Children with Acute Leukaemia: A Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of music nursing as a complementary therapy on anxiety, fatigue, and quality of life in children with acute leukemia (AL). METHODS: This study included 150 children with AL admitted to our hospital from August 2021 to August 2023 and divided them into two groups based on treatment: the control (n = 76, received routine nursing) and observation (n = 74, received music nursing on the basis of routine nursing) groups. Comparison of groups was performed in terms of general information, anxiety, fatigue, and quality of life at admission (T0) and 1 month after admission (T1). RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in the general data between the two groups (P > 0.05). Anxiety, fatigue, and quality of life of the two groups also showed no significant differences at T0 (P > 0.05). The observation group showed significantly lower anxiety than the control group at T1 (P < 0.05). At T1, the observation group exhibited a lower fatigue degree compared with the control group (P < 0.05). At T1, the observation group attained higher scores on physiological and emotional dimensions of the quality of life compared with the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Music nursing for AL children, which has a certain clinical application value, can effectively reduce their anxiety and fatigue and improve their quality of life.

#DryByChristmas: A patient and public involvement study on women's engagement with humorous pelvic floor muscle training digital nudges on social media.

INTRODUCTION: Patient and public involvement (PPI) is essential for women's health research. Little is known about how women engage with humorous social media and behavioural health messaging targeting pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT). This PPI aimed to understand how women engage with a humorous social media campaign encouraging PFMT. The study findings will influence the co-design of a digital intervention to support women's adherence to PFMT. METHODS: The Guidance for Reporting Involvement of Patients and the Public Version 2 short form was used to report the study's findings. The study examined public engagement with a humorous social media campaign encouraging PFMT in women. A healthcare professional and comedian ran the campaign following the national guidelines for engagement in PFMT. Instagram analytics gave insight into the demographics of the public who engaged, how they engaged and the most popular content. The behaviour change techniques (BCTs) used in the digital nudges that generated the highest levels of engagement were analysed using the Capability Opportunity Motivation Behaviour Change Wheel. RESULTS: The majority (96%) of the population showing the highest levels of engagement were women aged 35-44 years and were based in the United Kingdom (77%). The Instagram account saw an increase in engagement by 12% over the 3-month campaign, with 22,032 users seeing digital nudges and 2645 engaging with the digital nudges. The preferred way of engaging was using Likes (9723). The common themes in the digital nudges that generated the highest levels of engagement were BCTs associated with the 'social influences' theoretical domain framework that targeted the core behaviour opportunity. CONCLUSION: The study findings suggest humour may improve women's engagement with online PFMT programmes; however, more rigorous research is required to better understand diverse women's experiences of humorous online PFMT nudges. Future studies may use PFMT mobile apps instead of social media to capture true user engagement and adherence to PFMT more accurately. The insights gained from the study will be taken forward to co-design a digital behavioural intervention as part of a larger study. PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Members of the public were involved in the co-design of a digital health intervention that will be trialled as part of a larger research study. The public was involved using the social media platform Instagram. Public engagement with a humorous social media campaign to encourage women to engage with pelvic floor exercises was captured using Instagram analytics, for example, the timing of engagement.

Use of complementary and alternative medicine in vitiligo: a cross-sectional survey.

Vitiligo is characterized by skin depigmentation, which can lead to profound psychological effects and decreased quality of life, especially for those with skin of color. Individuals with vitiligo may utilize complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) due to limited treatment options with varying efficacy.An anonymous, multiple-choice, cross-sectional questionnaire was distributed to participants with vitiligo in the United States through online forums. Data on disease characteristics, use of prescription medications, use of topical therapies, supplements, and diets, and perceptions of CAM were collected.In total, 625 respondents completed the survey. Overall, 32.5% of participants (203/625) have tried CAM. Commonly reported CAM include supplements of vitamin D (57.7%, 116/203), vitamin B12 (46.3%, 93/203), vitamin C (27.4%, 55/203), topical Nigella sativa oil (26.4%, 53/203), oral omega-3 fatty acids (24.9%, 50/203), folic acid (22.9%, 46/203), and vitamin E (22.9%, 46/203). Frequently cited reasons for CAM use include desire to try "new" (40.4%, 82/203) or "more natural" (26.6%, 54/203) therapies, "frustration with conventional medicine" (24.6%, 50/203), and fear of "adverse side effects of conventional medicine" (23.6%, 48/203). Non-White participants were more likely than their White counterparts to report CAM use and have more positive perceptions of CAM therapies. Less than half (43.3%, 88/203) of CAM users reported that they disclosed their use of CAM with their physician.Dermatologists should be mindful of CAM and ask patients about their use. Further investigation of the role of CAM as adjuvant therapy for vitiligo is warranted to better advise patients.

The Relationship Between Cancer Patients' Supportive Care Needs and Their Attitudes Toward Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

BACKGROUND: Cancer patients have high supportive care needs related to the nature of the disease and treatment methods. To meet these needs or reduce symptoms, patients can be expected to resort to alternative treatment methods. AIM: To examine the relationship between the supportive care needs of cancer patients and their attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study involving 289 cancer patients at the Oncology Hospital in east of Turkey. Short-Form Supportive Care Needs Survey Questionnaire (SCNS-SF 29) and Holistic Complementary and Alternative Medicine Questionnaire (HCAMQ) were standard instruments used for data collection. The association between supportive care needs and attitude toward CAM was determined. RESULTS: The mean age of the study participants was 56.7 ± 12.7 years. There were 180 females (62.3%) and 109 males (37.7%). The mean score of the SCNS-SF 29 of the study participant was 101.19 ± 33.97. It was found that the patients' psychological needs were the highest, followed by health services and information, daily life, and sexuality needs, respectively. The mean score of the HCAMQ was 27.16 ± 9.54. There was a weak, significant negative correlation between HCAM and psychological supportive care needs (r: -0.240, P: 0.003). However, there was no significant relationship between needs related to health services information, daily life sexuality, and attitudes toward CAM. CONCLUSIONS: Cancer patients have high supportive care requirements. Those with high psychological needs have a positive attitude toward HCAM. Incorporation of HCAM in the care of cancer patients may improve their quality of care.