Use of complementary medicine among patients with allergic rhinitis: an Italian nationwide survey
Abstract 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...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
BMC
2019-02-01
|
Series: | Clinical and Molecular Allergy |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12948-019-0107-1 |
id |
doaj-d5c31be6d5af4287a3b00faac4c0c367 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-d5c31be6d5af4287a3b00faac4c0c3672020-11-25T02:14:50ZengBMCClinical and Molecular Allergy1476-79612019-02-011711310.1186/s12948-019-0107-1Use of complementary medicine among patients with allergic rhinitis: an Italian nationwide surveyG. Bonizzoni0M. Caminati1E. Ridolo2M. Landi3M. T. Ventura4C. Lombardi5G. Senna6M. Crivellaro7F. Gani8Allergy Service AOU San Luigi Hospital OrbassanoAsthma Center and Allergy Unit and Department of Medicine, Verona University HospitalExperimental and Clinical Medicine, University of ParmaNational Health Care SystemDepartment of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of BariDepartment Unit of Allergology and Respiratory Diseases, Fondazione Poliambulanza Hospital InstituteAsthma Center and Allergy Unit and Department of Medicine, Verona University HospitalDepartment of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of PaduaAllergy Service AOU San Luigi Hospital OrbassanoAbstract 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.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12948-019-0107-1Complementary medicineAllergic rhinitis |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
G. Bonizzoni M. Caminati E. Ridolo M. Landi M. T. Ventura C. Lombardi G. Senna M. Crivellaro F. Gani |
spellingShingle |
G. Bonizzoni M. Caminati E. Ridolo M. Landi M. T. Ventura C. Lombardi G. Senna M. Crivellaro F. Gani Use of complementary medicine among patients with allergic rhinitis: an Italian nationwide survey Clinical and Molecular Allergy Complementary medicine Allergic rhinitis |
author_facet |
G. Bonizzoni M. Caminati E. Ridolo M. Landi M. T. Ventura C. Lombardi G. Senna M. Crivellaro F. Gani |
author_sort |
G. Bonizzoni |
title |
Use of complementary medicine among patients with allergic rhinitis: an Italian nationwide survey |
title_short |
Use of complementary medicine among patients with allergic rhinitis: an Italian nationwide survey |
title_full |
Use of complementary medicine among patients with allergic rhinitis: an Italian nationwide survey |
title_fullStr |
Use of complementary medicine among patients with allergic rhinitis: an Italian nationwide survey |
title_full_unstemmed |
Use of complementary medicine among patients with allergic rhinitis: an Italian nationwide survey |
title_sort |
use of complementary medicine among patients with allergic rhinitis: an italian nationwide survey |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
Clinical and Molecular Allergy |
issn |
1476-7961 |
publishDate |
2019-02-01 |
description |
Abstract 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. |
topic |
Complementary medicine Allergic rhinitis |
url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12948-019-0107-1 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT gbonizzoni useofcomplementarymedicineamongpatientswithallergicrhinitisanitaliannationwidesurvey AT mcaminati useofcomplementarymedicineamongpatientswithallergicrhinitisanitaliannationwidesurvey AT eridolo useofcomplementarymedicineamongpatientswithallergicrhinitisanitaliannationwidesurvey AT mlandi useofcomplementarymedicineamongpatientswithallergicrhinitisanitaliannationwidesurvey AT mtventura useofcomplementarymedicineamongpatientswithallergicrhinitisanitaliannationwidesurvey AT clombardi useofcomplementarymedicineamongpatientswithallergicrhinitisanitaliannationwidesurvey AT gsenna useofcomplementarymedicineamongpatientswithallergicrhinitisanitaliannationwidesurvey AT mcrivellaro useofcomplementarymedicineamongpatientswithallergicrhinitisanitaliannationwidesurvey AT fgani useofcomplementarymedicineamongpatientswithallergicrhinitisanitaliannationwidesurvey |
_version_ |
1724899399884079104 |