Use of complementary and alternative medicine among females with polycystic ovary syndrome in Jordan: a cross-sectional study

Background and objectives Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent female reproductive and metabolic disorder. Among patients with chronic conditions, an increasing number have approached complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to cope with their disease. This study aimed to assess the u...

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Main Authors: Oriana Awwad, Mais Saleh, Ali Alsamydai, Fatma U Afifi, Amal Akour, Renad Abu Tarboosh, Manar Hamdan, Asma Sa’d Basha, Sanaa K Bardaweel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2024-12-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/12/e088945.full
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author Oriana Awwad
Mais Saleh
Ali Alsamydai
Fatma U Afifi
Amal Akour
Renad Abu Tarboosh
Manar Hamdan
Asma Sa’d Basha
Sanaa K Bardaweel
author_facet Oriana Awwad
Mais Saleh
Ali Alsamydai
Fatma U Afifi
Amal Akour
Renad Abu Tarboosh
Manar Hamdan
Asma Sa’d Basha
Sanaa K Bardaweel
author_sort Oriana Awwad
collection DOAJ
description Background and objectives Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent female reproductive and metabolic disorder. Among patients with chronic conditions, an increasing number have approached complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to cope with their disease. This study aimed to assess the use of CAM among females with PCOS in Jordan.Design, settings and participants A cross-sectional study was conducted at one of the largest tertiary centres in Jordan. Adult females with PCOS were interviewed using a data collection tool.Outcome measures CAM use and the factors associated with its use.Results A total of 402 women participated in the study, the median-IQR age was 25 (31–21) years. Common PCOS signs/symptoms included menses irregularity (81.8%), fatigue (71.6%) and hyperandrogenism (77.6%). Among all participants, 63.2% used CAM with the most common being herbs (60.4%). The primary sources of information were family and friends (46.1%).Longer duration since diagnosis, having more PCOS signs/symptoms and a higher level of education were factors significantly associated with CAM use (β=1.257, 95% CI=1.018 to 2.552, p=0.034; β=1.146, 95% CI=1.052 to 1.250, p=0.002 and β=1.584, 95% CI=1.054 to 2.379, p=0.027, respectively). Of all the CAM users, 57.5% reported an amelioration in PCOS symptoms; this was significantly associated with the long-term use of CAM (β=12.759, 95% CI=6.789 to 23.976, p<0.001). Just a few participants (9.4%) reported side effects.Conclusion A variety of CAM approaches were reported by the study population; herbs were the most widely used and accepted by the patients. Considering the primary source of information and the potential interactions of herbal medicine with the standard PCOS treatment, efforts are needed by healthcare providers to better understand the use of CAM among their patients with PCOS.
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spelling doaj-art-0e7fe96664c64978bd477181e1a1b51a2025-01-20T02:45:10ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552024-12-01141210.1136/bmjopen-2024-088945Use of complementary and alternative medicine among females with polycystic ovary syndrome in Jordan: a cross-sectional studyOriana Awwad0Mais Saleh1Ali Alsamydai2Fatma U Afifi3Amal Akour4Renad Abu Tarboosh5Manar Hamdan6Asma Sa’d Basha7Sanaa K Bardaweel81 Department of Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan3 Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan5 Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan6 Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan1 Department of Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan4 The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan4 The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan4 The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan4 The University of Jordan, Amman, JordanBackground and objectives Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent female reproductive and metabolic disorder. Among patients with chronic conditions, an increasing number have approached complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to cope with their disease. This study aimed to assess the use of CAM among females with PCOS in Jordan.Design, settings and participants A cross-sectional study was conducted at one of the largest tertiary centres in Jordan. Adult females with PCOS were interviewed using a data collection tool.Outcome measures CAM use and the factors associated with its use.Results A total of 402 women participated in the study, the median-IQR age was 25 (31–21) years. Common PCOS signs/symptoms included menses irregularity (81.8%), fatigue (71.6%) and hyperandrogenism (77.6%). Among all participants, 63.2% used CAM with the most common being herbs (60.4%). The primary sources of information were family and friends (46.1%).Longer duration since diagnosis, having more PCOS signs/symptoms and a higher level of education were factors significantly associated with CAM use (β=1.257, 95% CI=1.018 to 2.552, p=0.034; β=1.146, 95% CI=1.052 to 1.250, p=0.002 and β=1.584, 95% CI=1.054 to 2.379, p=0.027, respectively). Of all the CAM users, 57.5% reported an amelioration in PCOS symptoms; this was significantly associated with the long-term use of CAM (β=12.759, 95% CI=6.789 to 23.976, p<0.001). Just a few participants (9.4%) reported side effects.Conclusion A variety of CAM approaches were reported by the study population; herbs were the most widely used and accepted by the patients. Considering the primary source of information and the potential interactions of herbal medicine with the standard PCOS treatment, efforts are needed by healthcare providers to better understand the use of CAM among their patients with PCOS.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/12/e088945.full
spellingShingle Oriana Awwad
Mais Saleh
Ali Alsamydai
Fatma U Afifi
Amal Akour
Renad Abu Tarboosh
Manar Hamdan
Asma Sa’d Basha
Sanaa K Bardaweel
Use of complementary and alternative medicine among females with polycystic ovary syndrome in Jordan: a cross-sectional study
BMJ Open
title Use of complementary and alternative medicine among females with polycystic ovary syndrome in Jordan: a cross-sectional study
title_full Use of complementary and alternative medicine among females with polycystic ovary syndrome in Jordan: a cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Use of complementary and alternative medicine among females with polycystic ovary syndrome in Jordan: a cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Use of complementary and alternative medicine among females with polycystic ovary syndrome in Jordan: a cross-sectional study
title_short Use of complementary and alternative medicine among females with polycystic ovary syndrome in Jordan: a cross-sectional study
title_sort use of complementary and alternative medicine among females with polycystic ovary syndrome in jordan a cross sectional study
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/12/e088945.full
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