Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Alternative therapies in health and medicine, cilt.27, ss.19-23, 2021 (SCI-Expanded)
Context • Epilepsy is a condition characterized by
abnormal and excessive electrical discharges of cortical
neurons resulting sudden, repetitive, event-triggered
seizures. Epilepsy is most common neurologic disorder
during childhood and the second most common
neurological disorder following cerebrovascular diseases
in adults. Use of CAM in persons with epilepsy is high,
even compared to individuals with other chronic health
conditions.
Objectives • We aimed to determine the prevalence, types,
and factors influencing use of complementary and
alternative medicine (CAM) in adults with epilepsy.
Methods • The subjects of this descriptive study consisted
of 96 patients with epilepsy in the outpatient neurology
clinic of a hospital in Erzurum, Turkey.
Frequency, percentage and other descriptive statistics
were used to describe and summaries data.
Results • While most patients preferred CAM use (76%)
for treatment of epilepsy patients some did not (24%).
Spiritual practices was the most commonly used therapy
in 66.7 % of patients. Although 74% of the subjects
reported that they were satisfied with their use of CAM,
the majority (97%) did not discuss the use of these
therapies with their primary physicians. It was determined
that variables such as gender, education level, residential
area, marital status, and level of income and affected the
use of CAM (P < .05).
Conclusion • Turkish patients with epilepsy frequently
use CAM in addition to standard medical therapy. Nurses
caring for patient with epilepsy should initiate a dialogue
about usage of CAM, discussing the potential adverse
effects of CAM and the patient’s therapeutic goals. (Altern
Ther Health Med. 2021;27(4):19-23).