Prevalence and Characteristics of CAM Use among People Living with HIV and AIDS in Lebanon: Implications for Patient Care
Table 3
Characteristics of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) use in the study population.
Overall (%) ()
Characteristics of CAM use
Using CAM as alternative or as complementary treatment
Complementary
43 (79.6)
Alternative
11 (20.4)
Reasons for using CAM
Improves your general health and ensures long-term survival
50 (92.6)
It is more natural
30 (55.6)
To improve nutritional status
12 (22.2)
It has anti-HIV properties
10 (18.5)
Reduce side effects of conventional medication
9 (16.7)
Family tradition/culture/religious beliefs
6 (11.1)
To avoid taking HIV medications
3 (5.6)
More personal control over your health care
2 (3.7)
CAM monthly expenses (USD)
<10
20 (37.0)
11–30
18 (33.3)
>30
16 (29.6)
Side effects of CAM
Digestive symptoms
6 (11.1)
Body, bone, muscle, and/or joints pain
2 (3.7)
Infection symptoms
1 (1.9)
Nutritional status (e.g., weight gain)
1 (1.9)
Believe CAM cures HIV/AIDS
No/I do not know
30 (55.6)
Yes
9 (16.7)
Expected positive change after the use of CAM
Maybe
21 (38.9)
Definitely
26 (48.1)
Awareness of drug interactions with CAM
No/I do not know
26 (48.1)
Yes
28 (51.9)
Would advise other patients to use CAM
No
6 (11.1)
Yes
40 (74.1)
Role of treating physician or nurse
Source of information on CAM use
Personal knowledge/media/friends/family/organizations
36 (66.7)
Treating physician or nurse
21 (38.9)
Alternative therapist/traditional healer/religious leaders
12 (22.2)
Reporting CAM use to a Health Care Professional
No
24 (44.4)
Yes
30 (55.6)
Professional’s reaction
Encouraging
25 (83.3)
Discouraging
4 (13.3)
Neutral
1 (3.3)
Reasons for not reporting to a Health Care Professional ()
Does not need the doctor’s approval
12 (50.0)
Fear of not understanding
4 (16.7)
Patient was not in contact with the doctor
3 (12.5)
Doctor will not accept
2 (8.3)
Column total may be different because of missing data. The values do not sum up to 100% since multiple answer choices could have been selected. These questions have missing answers.
