Use of complementary medicine among patients with allergic rhinitis: An Italian nationwide survey

被引:11
作者
Bonizzoni G. [1 ]
Caminati M. [2 ]
Ridolo E. [3 ]
Landi M. [4 ]
Ventura M.T. [5 ]
Lombardi C. [6 ]
Senna G. [2 ]
Crivellaro M. [7 ]
Gani F. [1 ]
机构
[1] Allergy Service AOU San Luigi Hospital Orbassano, Turin
[2] Asthma Center and Allergy Unit, Department of Medicine, Verona University Hospital, Piazzale Scuro, Verona
[3] Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Parma, Parma
[4] National Health Care System, Turin
[5] Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari, Bari
[6] Department Unit of Allergology and Respiratory Diseases, Fondazione Poliambulanza Hospital Institute, Brescia
[7] Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padua
关键词
Allergic rhinitis; Complementary medicine;
D O I
10.1186/s12948-019-0107-1
中图分类号
学科分类号
摘要
Background: A growing use of complementary alternative medicine (CAM) has been found in Europe as well in Italy for chronic diseases, including the allergic rhinitis. The study aims at investigating the prevalence and the pattern of use of CAM amongst patient with allergic rhinitis. Methods: A 12-item questionnaire was developed by a panel of experts and administered to patients with moderate/severe allergic rhinitis consecutively referring during the study time-frame to seven allergy clinics placed all around Italy. The items covered several topics including reason for choosing CAM, its clinical efficacy, schedule of treatment, costs, type of therapy. Results: Overall 359 questionnaires were analysed. 20% of patients declared CAM use. A significant correlation between the use of CAM and female sex (p < 0.01) and with a higher level of education (p < 0.01) was observed. CAM users were adults (36% in the range between 20 and 40 years and 32% between 41 and 60 years). Youngsters (< 20 years) (7%) and elderly (> 60) (25%) less frequently used CAM.The most used type of CAM was homoeopathy (77% of patients). 60% of users would recommend CAM despite a poor clinical efficacy according to 67% of them. Conclusions: Although no evidence supports CAM efficacy and safety, the number of patients who relies on it is not negligible. As allergic rhinitis is not a trivial disease, the use of CAM as the only treatment for it should be discouraged at any level, but by general practitioner and specialist in particular. © 2019 The Author(s).
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