Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37924068›Full record

ArticleBMC complementary medicine and therapies2023

Use of traditional and complementary medicine by ethnic Indian women living with polycystic ovary syndrome: a global survey.

Vibhuti Samarth Rao, Mike Armour, Birinder S Cheema, Caroline A Smith, Lisa Moran, Romain S Perera, Siew Lim, Sabrina Gupta, Michael De Manincor, Rama Vaidya and 1 more

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In one paragraph

Article in BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Article
  6. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Vibhuti Samarth RaoNICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2571, Australia. v.rao@westernsydney.edu.au.
Mike ArmourNICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2571, Australia.
Birinder S CheemaSchool of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, 2560, Australia.
Caroline A SmithNICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2571, Australia.
Lisa MoranMonash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia.
Romain S PereraDepartment of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
Siew LimHealth Systems and Equity, Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Boxhill, VIC, 3128, Australia.
Sabrina GuptaSchool of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3689, Australia.
Michael De ManincorNICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2571, Australia.
Rama VaidyaDivision of Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders, Kasturba Health Society's Medical Research Centre, Mumbai, 400056, India.
Carolyn EeNICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2571, Australia. c.ee@westernsydney.edu.au.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTraditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM) is commonly used by those living with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) but little is known about the use of TCIM such as yoga and Ayurveda in ethnic Indian women with PCOS living worldwide. This survey aimed to explore the prevalence and types of TCIM used and in particular the pattern of use of yoga and Ayurveda including reasons for not using and future interest in using them among non-users.

methodAn online, international cross-sectional survey was conducted using a pre-designed survey tool. Participants were ethnic Indian women of reproductive age who reported that they were medically diagnosed with PCOS. Descriptive analysis was used to identify the proportion of TCIM users, while a multivariable binary logistic regression was used to analyze their characteristics.

resultsData from 3130 respondents were analysed. The prevalence of TCIM use was 80% (2515/3130). Yoga and Ayurveda were the most frequently practised TCIM modalities with a prevalence of 57% and 37% respectively. We found a high future interest in using yoga (81%) and Ayurveda (70%) among the non-users. The motivation for most Ayurveda use was a recommendation from family/friends (66%), rather than personal choice (38%) or the internet (19%). Most women used Ayurveda because it has natural ingredients (64%) and it is safe (60%) and cited its use to be safe and somewhat helpful. The majority of women were currently practising yoga (73%) up to four times a week (54%) at home (93%). Yoga was primarily used to improve overall health (67%), manage weight (64%), stress (54%) hormonal imbalance (49%) and emotional well-being (48%). Barriers to practising yoga were common among the current users and non-users and included lack of motivation (59% and 59%), time constraints (48% and 39%), and non-availability of yoga teachers specialised in PCOS (31% and 23%). Most women found yoga to be helpful and preferred individual one-on-one (52%) yoga sessions specifically tailored for PCOS (58%).

conclusionThis is the first international study that discovered the prevalence and pattern of TCIM use among ethnic Indian women with PCOS living worldwide. We support the urgent need for more research, education, and regulation of different TCIM modalities to promote safe and effective practices globally.

Indexed as

Complementary TherapiesPolycystic Ovary SyndromeYogaCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansSurveys and Questionnaires

Identifiers

PMID37924068
PMCPMC10623873

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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.