TY - JOUR
T1 - Regional variations in the use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) for inflammatory bowel disease patients in Italy
T2 - An IG-IBD study
AU - Bertomoro, Perla
AU - Renna, Sara
AU - Cottone, Mario
AU - Riegler, Gabriele
AU - Bossa, Fabrizio
AU - Giglio, Licio
AU - Pastorelli, Luca
AU - Papi, Claudio
AU - Castiglione, Fabiana
AU - Angelucci, Erika
AU - Pica, Roberta
AU - Di Paolo, Maria Carla
AU - D'Incà, Renata
PY - 2010/9
Y1 - 2010/9
N2 - Background and aim: Complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) are being used increasingly by patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). We aimed to assess the prevalence and usage of CAM in different geographical areas of Italy and possible predictors of their use. Methods and materials: A structured questionnaire, administered to outpatients, attending 8 general hospitals and 9 tertiary referral centres, was completed by 2011 patients (909 CD, 1087 UC and 15 indeterminate colitis). 583 patients lived in the North, 659 in Central Italy and 769 in the South. Results: CAM users were 475 (23.6%) with no regional differences in their distribution. Usage correlated significantly with female gender (p=0.030), higher education (p=0.021), hospitalization rates (p=0.000), extra-intestinal complications (p=0.000), non-adherence to conventional treatments (p=0.054), adverse reactions to conventional treatments (p=0.000), and active disease (p=0.007); 5-ASA usage was associated with a more limited use of CAM (p=0.005). Dietary changes or supplements and prayer were significantly more frequently reported in South, while Northern Italian patients more frequently used homeopathy, herbal medicines and physical exercises. Patients in Central Italy adopted an intermediate behavior. CAM use ameliorated the patient's general well-being according to two thirds of the users. Costs were higher for Northern patients than in Central or Southern Italy. Conclusion: One in four IBD patients in Italy use CAM. More money is spent on CAM in Northern Italy. Regional differences emerged as regards the type of CAM but not in terms of disease features, frequency of and reasons for CAM use, or perceived effects.
AB - Background and aim: Complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) are being used increasingly by patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). We aimed to assess the prevalence and usage of CAM in different geographical areas of Italy and possible predictors of their use. Methods and materials: A structured questionnaire, administered to outpatients, attending 8 general hospitals and 9 tertiary referral centres, was completed by 2011 patients (909 CD, 1087 UC and 15 indeterminate colitis). 583 patients lived in the North, 659 in Central Italy and 769 in the South. Results: CAM users were 475 (23.6%) with no regional differences in their distribution. Usage correlated significantly with female gender (p=0.030), higher education (p=0.021), hospitalization rates (p=0.000), extra-intestinal complications (p=0.000), non-adherence to conventional treatments (p=0.054), adverse reactions to conventional treatments (p=0.000), and active disease (p=0.007); 5-ASA usage was associated with a more limited use of CAM (p=0.005). Dietary changes or supplements and prayer were significantly more frequently reported in South, while Northern Italian patients more frequently used homeopathy, herbal medicines and physical exercises. Patients in Central Italy adopted an intermediate behavior. CAM use ameliorated the patient's general well-being according to two thirds of the users. Costs were higher for Northern patients than in Central or Southern Italy. Conclusion: One in four IBD patients in Italy use CAM. More money is spent on CAM in Northern Italy. Regional differences emerged as regards the type of CAM but not in terms of disease features, frequency of and reasons for CAM use, or perceived effects.
KW - Alternative therapies
KW - CAM
KW - Crohn's disease
KW - IBD
KW - Ulcerative colitis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77955275044&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77955275044&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.crohns.2009.12.009
DO - 10.1016/j.crohns.2009.12.009
M3 - Article
C2 - 21122518
AN - SCOPUS:77955275044
VL - 4
SP - 291
EP - 300
JO - Journal of Crohn's and Colitis
JF - Journal of Crohn's and Colitis
SN - 1873-9946
IS - 3
ER -