Table 3.
Characteristics of CAM use.
| CD | UC | P-value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Have you ever used the following therapies for your IBD? n = 193 (%) | |||
| Gluten-free diet | 44 (39.6) | 36 (43.9) | 0.552 |
| Anti-inflammatory diet | 51 (45.9) | 34 (41.5) | 0.535 |
| Other diet | 53 (47.7) | 37 (45.1) | 0.718 |
| Probiotics | 70 (63.1) | 57 (69.5) | 0.35 |
| Curcumin | 21 (18.9) | 24 (29.3) | 0.093 |
| Andrographis paniculata | 0 | 0 | |
| Boswellia serrate | 4 (3.6) | 3 (3.7) | 0.984 |
| Artemisia absinthium | 5 (4.5) | 0 | 0.052 |
| Cannabis | 42 (37.8) | 21 (25.6) | 0.073 |
| Other herbal formula | 17 (15.3) | 18 (22.0) | 0.237 |
| Cognitive behavioural therapy | 20 (18.0) | 12 (14.6) | 0.532 |
| Acupuncture | 28 (25.2) | 18 (22.0) | 0.598 |
| Other | 25 (22.5) | 16 (19.5) | 0.613 |
| What are the reasons for using CAM? n = 193 (%) | |||
| Conventional medicine did not make me feel better | 46 (41.4) | 29 (35.4) | 0.392 |
| Conventional medicine will not cure my disease | 24 (21.6) | 14 (17.1) | 0.432 |
| Side effects of conventional medicine | 22 (19.8) | 17 (20.7) | 0.876 |
| Final hope | 15 (13.5) | 11 (13.4) | 0.984 |
| Fear of surgery | 20 (18.0) | 9 (11.0) | 0.176 |
| Want to use natural approach | 17 (15.3) | 22 (26.8) | 0.049 |
| Want to use holistic approach | 22 (19.8) | 18 (22.0) | 0.718 |
| Improve mood | 41 (36.9) | 26 (31.7) | 0.451 |
| Other | 47 (42.3) | 30 (36.6) | 0.419 |
| What symptoms were you hoping would improve with CAM? n = 193 (%) | |||
| Abdominal pain | 69 (62.2) | 43 (52.4) | 0.176 |
| Diarrhoea | 64 (57.7) | 55 (67.1) | 0.184 |
| Fatigue | 72 (64.9) | 49 (59.8) | 0.468 |
| Appetite | 28 (25.2) | 11 (13.4) | 0.043 |
| Weight loss | 24 (21.6) | 14 (17.1) | 0.432 |
| Other | 34 (30.6) | 21 (25.6) | 0.445 |