Hypertensive patients' preferences for complementary and alternative medicine and the influence of these preferences on the adherence to prescribed medication

Lee K 1 , Mokhtar HH 2 , Krauss SE 3 , Ong BK 4

Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia. Electronic address: chewhan4694@yahoo.com
  • 2 Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology, Faculty of Educational Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia. Electronic address: halaliah@educ.upm.edu.my
  • 3 Community Educations and Youth Studies Laboratory, Institute for Social Science Studies (IPSAS), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia. Electronic address: abd_lateef@hotmail.com
  • 4 School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. Electronic address: ongbengkok@hotmail.com
Complement Ther Clin Pract, 2014 May;20(2):99-105.
PMID: 24767954 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2014.03.001

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study aimed to understand hypertensive patients' perceptions of and adherence to prescribed medication.
METHODS: A qualitative research study based on 23 purposely selected participants from a community health clinic in Malaysia. The participants underwent in-depth semi-structured interviews, and the data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis method.
RESULTS: The participants were presented with six types of perceptions of medication. The majority of the participants had negative perceptions of Western medicine (WM), self-adjusted their prescribed medication with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and concealed their self-adjusting habits from their doctors. Participants who thought positively of WM took their prescribed medication regularly. Most of the participants perceived the nature of WM as not being curative because of its side effects. Patients have the right to choose their preferred medication when they understand their illness.
CONCLUSION: Local health care systems should provide patients with alternative health services that suit their requests.
KEYWORDS: Adherence; Complementary and alternative medicine; Hypertension; Qualitative research
Study site: Klinik kesihatan, Selangor, Malaysia

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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