The aim of this study is to explore the help-seeking behaviour of Malay psychiatric patients. A semi-structured interview based on a standard proforma was conducted to assess help seeking process and delays for Malay psychiatric patients attending the psychiatric clinic for the first time. Help-seeking process and delays were defined. Among 134 patients evaluated in the study, 69% had visited traditional healers (bomoh) for the present illness before consulting psychiatrists. The second popular choice of treatment was medical practitioner and only a small percentage of them had consulted homeopathic practitioners and herbalists. Patients who had consulted bomohs were significantly delayed in getting psychiatric treatment compared with those who had not consulted them. Consultation of bomohs was significantly higher among married patients, those with major psychiatric illnesses and in family who believed in supernatural causes of mental illness. However, there was no significant difference in age, gender, educational status and occupation between patients who had consulted and not consulted bomoh. We concluded that majority of the Malay psychiatric patients had sought the traditional treatment prior to psychiatric consultation. The strength of social support and the belief of the patients, friends, and/or relatives in supernatural causes of mental illness were strongly associated with the rate of traditional treatment. Deep-seated cultural beliefs were major barrier to psychiatric treatment.
A powder (EWI) made from a mixture of herbs used for the treatment of carbuncles by traditional medicine practitioners in China was investigated for antistaphylococcal activity by agar diffusion, time-kill studies and M.I.C. determinations performed on 17 clinical isolates and a reference strain ATCC 29213. It was found that EW1 had little demonstrable in vitro activity against the clinical isolates tested but inhibited the growth of the ATCC strain at 10 mg/l and retarded its growth in broth culture by an average of 1.5 log reduction in colony count. KEYWORDS: Traditional medicine, anti-staphylococcal activity.
A cross-sectional study was carried out through a postal survey of a random sample of registered medical practitioners in Malaysia to explore the pursuit and practice of CAM among them. A response rate of 42% was acquired. 27.1% of the medical practitioners are currently using CAM on themselves or their own families and 22.2% actually have referred patients to CAM practitioners. Analysis showed that only 14.9% of the medical practitioners who responded were exposed to CAM during their undergraduate days. Out of 28 respondents graduated from USM, 15 (53.6%) were exposed while out of the 80 graduates of UM, only 6 (7.5%) were exposed and out of 58 respondents graduates of UKM, only 5 (8.6%) were exposed to CAM during their undergraduate teaching. These differences are statistically different (p < 0.001). Analysis also showed that more (72.6%) medical practitioners are for having training in CAM during the medical undergraduate studies. Only 9.1% of the respondents have attended any training in CAM post graduation and 36.8% would like further training on CAM postgraduate and would pay for it. The findings illustrate the need for training in CAM in medical undergraduate education especially in this new age where alternative therapy is in demand by the consumers.
The use of Complementary Medicine (CM) amongst diabetic patients attending the Diabetes/Hypertension, Clinic. Out Patient Department, Ipoh Hospital was studied: Forty-three patients were selected by systematic random sampling (1:5) over a one-week period starting 5/12/01. Data were collected by patient interview, from medical records and through a questionnaire. 56% were using CM together with conventional therapy. Most commonly used were herbal therapy, homeopathy and reflexology. The majority took CM daily with a mean duration of 7 years. Over half had subjective relief of pain with increased energy. Patients on CM or conventional therapy both showed poorly controlled FBS levels. There is a need to assess the effect of these therapies on diabetic outcome.
Study site: Diabetes/Hypertension, Clinic. Out Patient Department, Hospital Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Aim: To determine the prevalence of the use of complementary medicine in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)., Method: A prospective survey was conducted of 132 patients using a standard questionnaire., Results: Of the 132 patients, 15.2% were on alternative therapy and 56.7% were taking food supplements. The common types of alternative therapy taken were oral traditional herbs (50%) and noni juice (20%). Vitamin C, calcium, vitamin E, vitamin B, Spirulina, evening primrose oil, fish oil and multivitamins were the commonest food supplements. There was no significant relationships between taking alternative treatment and educational level (P = 0.16), income (P = 0.05) or race (P = 0.42) of the patients. The majority of these patients took these therapies or supplements for up to 1 year. Up to 70% of the patients had not consulted a doctor before taking these therapies, with immediate family members and friends being the main sources of recommendation. The majority of patients spent RM50-RM500 (US$13-US$132) for 2 months' supply of medications. In conclusion, 15.2% of SLE patients in our study were on alternative therapy and 57.6% on food supplements., Conclusion: Physicians should be aware of these practices which should be taken into account during the history-taking and subsequent management of the patients.
The knowledge and practice of doctors (n=40) towards complementary medicine (CM) in 16 health clinics in the Kinta District were assessed by questionnaire. Thirty-four (85%) responded. More than half felt that acupuncture (73.50), homeopathy (59%) and herbal medicine (59%) were occasionally harmful. Forty-four percent felt manipulative therapy was frequently harmful. Relaxation technique (79%) and nutritional therapy (44%) were considered most frequently useful. 59% used some form of CM. There were no significant differences found in usage rates by gender, age group and exposure to CM during undergraduate training. Sixty-seven percent had encouraged patients to seek CM. Seventy-three percent perceived an increasing demand for CM. Eighty-eight percent were in favour of a hospital based CM referral center. Only 6% were trained in CM.
Study site: Klinik kesihatan, Perak, Malaysia
The use and reasons for use of Complementary Medicine (CM) amongst hypertensive patients attending the Hypertension/ Diabetes/ Asthma Clinic in Greentown Health Clinic, Ipoh was assessed. One hundred and twenty patients were selected by systematic random sampling (1:5) over a 2-week period commencing 26/04/04. Data was obtained from interviews, questionnaires and medical records. Twenty seven percent were on CM. Most commonly used CM was herbal medicine. Majority of those using CM for BP control were Malays. The Chinese and Indians were using CM mainly for other health problems. Ninety six percent were using both CM and conventional therapy concurrently. Therefore doctors should enquire about CM usage during patient assessment to prevent possible drug interactions.