Characteristics of herbal medicine users among internal medicine patients: A cross-sectional analysis

Leach, MJ; Lauche, R; Zhang, AL; Cramer, H; Adams, J; Langhorst, J; Dobos, G

Characteristics of herbal medicine users among internal medicine patients: A cross-sectional analysis

Leach, MJ Lauche, R

Zhang, AL

Cramer, H Adams, J

Langhorst, J Dobos, G

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Journal of Herbal Medicine, 2017, 10 pp. 1 - 7
Issue Date:: 2017-12-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Leach, MJ	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Lauche, R https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4171-7935	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Zhang, AL https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0968-9380	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Cramer, H	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Adams, J https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9901-5717	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Langhorst, J	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Dobos, G	en_US
dc.date.available	2020-05-25T19:04:29Z
dc.date.issued	2017-12-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Journal of Herbal Medicine, 2017, 10 pp. 1 - 7	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	2210-8033	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/108020
dc.description.abstract	© 2017 Elsevier GmbH Background: Herbal medicine is among the most frequently used complementary medicines. This study aims to identify the socio-demographic and health-related predictors of herbal medicine utilisation among patients with chronic internal medicine conditions admitted to inpatient care. Methods: Patients referred to a German integrative medicine clinic were asked whether they had ever used herbal medicine for their primary medical diagnosis, and whether they experienced benefits or harm. Socio-demographic characteristics, health behaviour, medical diagnosis, health status, mental health, satisfaction with health, and health locus of control were determined as potential predictors of herbal medicine use. Results: Of 2105 respondents, 41.9% reported herbal medicine use for their primary medical complaint, with 57.4% of them reporting perceived benefits and no harm due to use. Herbal medicine use was positively associated with female gender, at least high school education, a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, lung disease or sub-threshold depression, high internal health locus of control and avoidance of fast food, and was negatively associated with spinal pain. High satisfaction with life and high internal health locus of control were positively associated with perceiving herbal medicine as helpful. Whilst, being a smoker and diagnosed with headaches or irritable bowel syndrome had a negative association with the use of herbal medicine. Conclusion: Herbal medicine utilisation among patients admitted to integrative inpatient care is common. While predictors of herbal medicine use appear to be in line with previous findings, there is a need for more in-depth examination of patients’ motivations for the use of herbal medicine to further the understanding of their health behaviours and needs.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Journal of Herbal Medicine	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.hermed.2017.06.005	en_US
dc.title	Characteristics of herbal medicine users among internal medicine patients: A cross-sectional analysis	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	10	en_US
utslib.for	1104 Complementary and Alternative Medicine	en_US
utslib.for	1115 Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	10	en_US

Abstract:

© 2017 Elsevier GmbH Background: Herbal medicine is among the most frequently used complementary medicines. This study aims to identify the socio-demographic and health-related predictors of herbal medicine utilisation among patients with chronic internal medicine conditions admitted to inpatient care. Methods: Patients referred to a German integrative medicine clinic were asked whether they had ever used herbal medicine for their primary medical diagnosis, and whether they experienced benefits or harm. Socio-demographic characteristics, health behaviour, medical diagnosis, health status, mental health, satisfaction with health, and health locus of control were determined as potential predictors of herbal medicine use. Results: Of 2105 respondents, 41.9% reported herbal medicine use for their primary medical complaint, with 57.4% of them reporting perceived benefits and no harm due to use. Herbal medicine use was positively associated with female gender, at least high school education, a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, lung disease or sub-threshold depression, high internal health locus of control and avoidance of fast food, and was negatively associated with spinal pain. High satisfaction with life and high internal health locus of control were positively associated with perceiving herbal medicine as helpful. Whilst, being a smoker and diagnosed with headaches or irritable bowel syndrome had a negative association with the use of herbal medicine. Conclusion: Herbal medicine utilisation among patients admitted to integrative inpatient care is common. While predictors of herbal medicine use appear to be in line with previous findings, there is a need for more in-depth examination of patients’ motivations for the use of herbal medicine to further the understanding of their health behaviours and needs.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/108020