COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE USE BY PATIENTS WITH INFLAMMATORY BOWEL-DISEASE

Objective: The purpose of this study was to establish the degree and d eterminants of the use of complementary therapies by patients with inf lammatory bowel disease (IBD) and their reasons for seeking them. Meth ods: The first phase was a cross-sectional survey of 134 patients with IBD (98 with Crohn's disease, 34 with ulcerative colitis, and two ind eterminate) using a mailed, structured questionnaire (response rate 70 %), Determinants of complementary medicine use were examined using log istic regression. The second phase was an in-depth exploration using p ersonal interviews of the beliefs and perceptions of 14 complementary medicine users about the management of their disease. Analysis was per formed using standard qualitative techniques and the identification of important, patient-identified themes about the management of IBD, Res ults: Complementary therapies had been used by 51% of patients in the previous 2 yr, Current use was reported by 33%, of whom one-half were using it for their IBD, Vitamins and herbal products were the most com monly reported therapies. In multivariate analysis, duration of diseas e > 10 yr and a history of hospitalization were independent predictors of complementary medicine use. The side effects and lack of effective ness of standard therapies were the most commonly cited reasons for se eking complementary medicine. Sixty-two percent had told their doctor about their use of complementary medicine. Conclusion: Complementary m edicine use is common in patients with IBD, especially among those wit h a longer duration of disease or a history of hospitalization. (C) 19 98 by Am. Cell. of Gastroenterology.