Background: With the increasing trend of patients incorporating complementary therapies (CTs) alongside conventional medicine, the lack of communication between patients using CTs and their healthcare professionals can lead to potential risks, including serious drug interactions.
Purpose: This study aims to investigate the factors influencing the disclosure of CTs use to conventional healthcare professionals among outpatients with diabetes.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was utilized to enroll 307 outpatients diagnosed with diabetes from both the northern and southern regions of Taiwan, spanning October 2022 to March 2023. The survey questionnaire covered demographic information, patterns and experiences of CTs use, the Understanding the Benefit-Risks of CTs Use Scale, and the Diabetes Empowerment Scale. Data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics version 28.0.
Results: Only one-third of diabetes outpatients disclosed their CTs use to conventional healthcare professionals. Factors influencing this disclosure included understanding the benefits and risks of CTs use (OR =1.10), reasons for initial CTs use (OR =1.58), integration of conventional and complementary medicines (OR =15.03), and the use of manipulative-based therapies (OR =6.82).
Conclusion: Understanding the factors impacting the disclosure of CTs use is crucial for healthcare professionals. This knowledge enables them to identify patients who may hesitate to disclose their CTs use and ensures a comprehensive understanding of patients' CTs use, thus facilitating effective communication.

Authors:
Hsiao-Yun Chang, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan

About the Presenter(s)
Hsiao yun Chang is currently a professor in the Department of Nursing at Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan.

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