Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among hypertensive patients in Palestine

PurposeTo explore the frequency of CAM use among hypertensive patients in Palestine, determine demographic characteristics that may increase the likelihood of CAM use and to find out how benefits were perceived by patients.MethodsAcross-sectional survey of patients attending outpatient hypertension clinics. The method was based on a semi-structured questionnaire.ResultsOf the 4575 hypertensive patients interviewed, 85.7% respondents used at least one type of CAM. Of the 3921 CAM users, 62.13% reported taking herbs. Most of these users were >50 years old, of low educational level, and had a family history of HTN, 62.9% claimed to have obtained the desired effect from taking these herbs; however, 68.1% did not disclose this fact to their health care providers, 83 plant taxa were reported by these patients, Allium sativum was the most commonly used herb.ConclusionsThe use of CAM, particularly herbal therapies for hypertension treatment, is highly prevalent in Palestine.