SynthesisBMC complementary medicine and therapies2020
Potential factors that influence usage of complementary and alternative medicine worldwide: a systematic review.
Synthesis in BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 119 papers, 4 of them syntheses 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
119 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 288 citations in OpenAlex.
- Improving complementary medicine literacy: a systematic review of educational interventions for consumers and caregivers.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2025Pooled it
- Comparative Effect of Conventional and Non-Conventional Over-the-Counter Treatments for Male Androgenetic Alopecia: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Pooled it
- Barriers and facilitators for patients' acceptance and adherence to auriculotherapy: A qualitative systematic review using the theoretical domains framework.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2025Pooled it
- Attitudes and beliefs regarding the use of herbs and supplementary medications with COVID-19: A systematic review.Research in social & administrative pharmacy : RSAP · 2023Pooled it
- Empowering Patients Through Literacy: A Randomized Controlled Trial of an Educational App for Evaluating Complementary Therapies in Diabetes Management.Nursing open · 2026Trial
- Patterns of complementary and alternative medicine use and factors influencing its utilization in thyroid cancer: findings from the MASTER study.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2026Trial
- Effects of debunking interventions on endorsement of alternative medicine: a randomized controlled experiment in Peru.Scientific reports · 2026Trial
- Interest in complementary and alternative medicine among participants in a study on cancer prevention by green tea extract - results from an expert-based survey of MIRACLE trial participants.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2025Trial
- Trial
- Integrative oncology consultation and patient referral to complementary therapies: results from the prospective study THERAC.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026Observational
- Stakeholder priorities for advancing integrative oncology across a pluralistic health system: a qualitative study from Singapore.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026Article
- Social and cultural determinants of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM) use in primary care: the role of migration, health literacy, and religious orientation.BMC public health · 2026Article
- Online cancer forums and complementary and alternative medicine in cancer care: effects of ehealth literacy and psychological distress on use and attitudes.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026Article
- Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine on X (Formerly Twitter) From 2015 to 2024 Across English, Spanish, and French: Retrospective Observational Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Observational
- Knowledge of Complementary Medicine and Therapies Among Family Physicians and the General Population in Saudi Arabia.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Attitudes toward the use of complementary and alternative medicine in children with gastrointestinal symptoms, a multicenter survey study among parents and pediatricians.European journal of pediatrics · 2026Article
- Online information for patients on cancer diets - a comparison of German- and English-language websites.BMC medical informatics and decision making · 2026Article
- Examining the use of complementary and alternative medicine among older persons in Ebonyi State, Southeast Nigeria: a qualitative study.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2026Article
- Metallo-herb complexes as emerging therapeutics: chemistry, synthesis approaches, and pharmacological insights.Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine · 2026Review
- Complementary Medicine Use and Perceptions of It in Victoria, Australia: A Statewide Cross-Sectional Survey.Nutrients · 2026Article
59 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
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 at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesTo determine similarities and differences in the reasons for using or not using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) amongst general and condition-specific populations, and amongst populations in each region of the globe.
methodsA literature search was performed on Pubmed, ScienceDirect and EMBASE. KEYWORDS: 'herbal medicine' OR 'herbal and dietary supplement' OR 'complementary and alternative medicine' AND 'reason' OR 'attitude'. Quantitative or qualitative original articles in English, published between 2003 and 2018 were reviewed. Conference proceedings, pilot studies, protocols, letters, and reviews were excluded. Papers were appraised using valid tools and a 'risk of bias' assessment was also performed. Thematic analysis was conducted. Reasons were coded in each paper, then codes were grouped into categories. If several categories reported similar reasons, these were combined into a theme. Themes were then analysed using χ
results231 publications were included. Reasons for CAM use amongst general and condition-specific populations were similar. The top three reasons for CAM use were: (1) having an expectation of benefits of CAM (84% of publications), (2) dissatisfaction with conventional medicine (37%) and (3) the perceived safety of CAM (37%). Internal health locus of control as an influencing factor was more likely to be reported in Western populations, whereas the social networks was a common factor amongst Asian populations (p < 0.05). Affordability, easy access to CAM and tradition were significant factors amongst African populations (p < 0.05). Negative attitudes towards CAM and satisfaction with conventional medicine (CM) were the main reasons for non-use (p < 0.05).
conclusionsDissatisfaction with CM and positive attitudes toward CAM, motivate people to use CAM. In contrast, satisfaction with CM and negative attitudes towards CAM are the main reasons for non-use.
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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.