Assessment of the complementary and integrative medicine utilization among patients with multiple sclerosis using a translated and adapted version of the international questionnaire (I-CAM-QP): A cross-sectional study in Southern Iran

Aims: To assess the prevalence of and factors related to complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) use among multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, using a translated and adapted version of a standard international questionnaire. Methods: International complementary and alternative medicine questionnaire (I-CAM-Q) was used. A cross-sectional study was done to assess the prevalence of and factors associated with CIM use among MS patients in Southern Iran. Patients who were randomly selected from MS registry center, were interviewed via phone calls. Results: Three hundred patients were enrolled in the study; 69% of them were female. Their mean age was 36.6 +/- 8.53 years and the mean duration of the disease was 5.6 +/- 4.22 years. In all, 99.3% (95% CI) of the patients had used at least one type of CIM. Herbal medicines and dietary supplements were the most commonly used CIM type (97.3%; 95% CI). Praying was the most common modality among all CIM subgroups (81.3%; 95% CI). Long term illness (MS) was selected as the main reason for the last use of all CIM types. Having non-tertiary education and having sequel due to MS were related to visiting a CIM provider (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.22-4.43), (AOR = 2.67, 95% CI = 1.47-4.83) respectively. Being female was related to the use of self-help practices (AOR = 3.41, 95% CI = 1.5-7.72). Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of CIM use among MS patients. Therefore, patient- physician communication about CIM use should be emphasized.