Factors contributing to the use of complementary and alternative medicine by people with epilepsy

We evaluated the factors that influence the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by people with epilepsy. Two hundred forty-six people were recruited from an outpatient clinic. Data on CAM utilization in the past 5 years as well as in the near future were collected via face-to-face structured interviews, and the factors contributing to CAM use were determined by multivariate analysis. About one-third of the participants (31.3%) reported using CAM in the past 5 years, and an equal number (30.5%) were willing to use CAM in the future. CAM use in the past was independently related to gender, economic status, and a belief in the safety of CAM use, whereas CAM use in the near future was independently associated with experience with CAM use in the past and a belief in the safety of CAM use.