ArticleBMC complementary and alternative medicine2013
A survey describing the use of complementary therapies and medicines by women attending a family planning clinic.
Article in BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Complementary medicine use by the Australian population: a critical mixed studies systematic review of utilisation, perceptions and factors associated with use.BMC complementary and alternative medicine · 2016Pooled it
- Protective Effect of Marjoram Against Letrozole-Induced Ovarian Damage in Rats with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Entails Activation of Nrf2 and Suppression of NF-κB.Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Type and Frequency in Use of Nutraceutical and Micronutrient Supplementation for the Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Scoping Review.Biomedicines · 2023Article
- Potentials of curcumin against polycystic ovary syndrome: Pharmacological insights and therapeutic promises.Heliyon · 2023Review
- Investigating the potential role of swertiamarin on insulin resistant and non-insulin resistant granulosa cells of poly cystic ovarian syndrome patients.Journal of ovarian research · 2023Article
- Lifestyle management in polycystic ovary syndrome - beyond diet and physical activity.BMC endocrine disorders · 2023Review
- Vitex agnus castus effects on hyperprolactinaemia.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2023Review
- Complementary and alternative medicine use among infertile women attending infertility specialty clinics in South Korea: does perceived severity matter?BMC complementary and alternative medicine · 2019Article
- Licorice ethanol extract improves symptoms of polycytic ovary syndrome in Letrozole-induced female rats.Integrative medicine research · 2018Article
- Promoting healthy lifestyle in fertility clinics; an Australian perspective.Human reproduction open · 2018Article
- Herbal medicine for the management of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and associated oligo/amenorrhoea and hyperandrogenism; a review of the laboratory evidence for effects with corroborative clinical findings.BMC complementary and alternative medicine · 2014Review
- A survey of the use of complementary medicine by a self-selected community group of Australian women with polycystic ovary syndrome.BMC complementary and alternative medicine · 2014Article
- Perspectives of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practitioners in the support and treatment of infertility.BMC complementary and alternative medicine · 2014Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundComplementary medicines (CMs) are widely used by women. Although, women in Australia are frequent users of CM, few studies have examined their utilisation by women attending a family planning service. The aim of this study was to examine (i) the extent of and type of CM, (ii) women's views about safety and efficacy, and (iii) the factors influencing women's decision-making.
methodsA cross-sectional survey using a convenience sample of 221 women aged greater than 18 years attending a family planning (FP) service was undertaken over a two week period in Sydney, Australia. An anonymous self-administered questionnaire was designed to examine women's current and previous use of CMs, their attitudes towards safety and effectiveness, the factors influencing their decision-making, and their disclosure of CM use to a FP health professional. Demographic questions were designed to describe the diversity of the participants. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between CM use and demographics.
resultsSixty-seven percent of women surveyed were currently using CMs, and 83% reported use during the previous 12 months. Most respondents utilised CMs to maintain their general health or for prevention of ill health. Over 30% of women lacked information to make an informed response to questions examining their views about the safety of CMs. Forty-four percent of participants stated they discussed their use of CMs with their FP providers. The main reason why women did not mention CMs was they did not see the relevance to their consultation (43%). Lower rates of CM use were found for younger women (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.09-0.61), and those not completing high school (OR 0.44, 95% 0.20-1.00).
conclusionThe use of CM is very common among women attending an Australian FP clinic, however our findings may not be generalisable to all women. We identified a notable gap in women's awareness of the potential for interactions between CM and prescribed medication. Our findings also emphasise the need for healthcare providers to initiate discussions with clients about their utilisation of CM.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.