Understanding CAM Use in Lebanon: Findings from a National Survey

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to identify predictors of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) use in Lebanon. Data for this study were drawn from a national survey conducted among Lebanese adults (n=1500). A modified version of the Social Behavioral Model (SBM) was used to understand CAM use in the study population. In this version, predisposing factors included sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, education, and employment) and Push and Pull factors. Additionally, enabling resources included income, and medical need encompassed presence of chronic disease and perceived health status. Simple and multiple logistic regressions were used to examine the predictors of CAM use in the study population. Results of the multiple logistic regression showed that younger and older adults were less likely to use CAM as compared to middle-aged respondents. The Push factor “dissatisfaction with conventional medicine” was associated with higher odds of CAM use. For three of the six Pull factors, compared to participants who strongly disagreed, those who had a tendency of taking care of one's health were more likely to use CAM. Income and presence of chronic disease were also associated with higher odds of CAM use. The findings of this study affirmed the utility of the SBM in explaining the use of CAM and proposed a new version of this model, whereby the Push and Pull factors are integrated within the predisposing factors of this model.

Complementary and alternative medicine use among outpatients during the 2015 MERS outbreak in South Korea: a cross-sectional study

“…Similarly, previous studies found distrust in the government and dissatisfaction with the conventional health care system to be associated with CAM use [16,57]. These results suggest that individuals who find the formal health care system to be unreliable resort to CAM to compensate for the lack of perceived-health care quality, to practice autonomy, and to protect themselves from health threats [16,[57][58][59]. However, the findings remain inconclusive, and further research is needed to improve our understanding of the determinants of CAM use during epidemic events.…”

A study on the motivation of Indian patients to consult complementary and alternative medicine practitioners to treat coronary artery disease

“…Whereas, push factors identified in this study include perceived side‐effects of drugs, perceived compulsory surgical intervention, increased financial burden, and increased physical limitations, and lifelong drug dependency. Existing literatures also supports our findings on the role of push and pull forces 12–16 . Many of the push and pull forces identified are similar to those in previous studies, while some of these factors are atypical to Indian society.…”

“…Existing literatures also supports our findings on the role of push and pull forces. [12][13][14][15][16] Many of the push and pull forces identified are similar to those in previous studies, while some of these factors are atypical to Indian society. One such factor is choosing CAM to avoid 'surgical intervention'.…”

“…For cardiac disease patients, motivational factors include perceptions of CAM associated improvements in health and wellness, relief from symptoms, fewer side‐effects, as well as perceptions of the limitations of biomedicine 7,11 . Various studies have also identified the ‘push and pull’ forces underlying CAM usage 12–16 . Push forces include factors that cause dissatisfaction with biomedical treatments, such as side‐effects, financial burden and long‐term dependency, whereas pull forces attract patients to CAM through less dependency on medications, reduced side effects, and improved quality of life.…”

Knowledge, attitude, and practices of complementary and alternative medicine: a survey of physicians and nurses at an academic medical center in Beirut

“…On the national level, several studies on CAM therapies were conducted in Lebanon [ 16 , 20 , 21 ]. These studies investigated the prevalence of CAM use and its correlates across Lebanese nationals at large and mainly targeted CAM as biologically based practices including substances found in nature, such as herbs, dietary supplements, multivitamin, and mineral supplements given that folk foods and herbs were reported as being the most commonly used CAM therapies in Lebanon [ 16 , 21 ].…”