Exploring Patient Perspectives: Embracing Complementary Therapies for Chronic Conditions within Public Health Centers

Abstract

Introduction: Using complementary therapies among individuals with chronic illnesses has resulted in positive and negative outcomes. Nevertheless, patients exhibit reluctance to discuss these therapeutic options with healthcare professionals. As a result, delving into perceptions and involvement with complementary therapies becomes of utmost importance, establishing a fundamental reference for medical practitioners and ensuring the well-being of patients during the implementation process. This study aimed to meticulously examine the viewpoints of individuals suffering from chronic diseases regarding integrating complementary therapies within Public Health Centres.

Methods: This study used a cross-sectional approach. This investigation employed survey techniques and guided interviews conducted through the G-form platform. The questionnaire's validity, established at 0.89, and reliability, spanning from 0.37 to 0.76, have been verified.

Results: The study encompasses a participant pool of 328 individuals. Within the array of diverse complementary therapies, herbal therapy gains prominence, embraced by 260 respondents (79.3%), while massage therapy garners favor from 225 participants (31.4%). The majority of respondents hold a favorable perception that these therapies are innocuous and characterized by minimal side effects. Additionally, they emphasize the necessity for healthcare practitioners to acquaint themselves with complementary therapies, dispense informative guidance, and contemplate both complementary and conventional approaches when delivering healthcare services.

Conclusions: Herbal therapy emerges as a prevalent and comparably low-risk choice, contingent upon its prudent application tailored to specific ailments. Thus, equipping healthcare providers with a comprehensive understanding of complementary therapies assumes a pivotal role, enabling the amalgamation of traditional and alternative strategies to heighten the overall effectiveness of healthcare provision.