Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39976693›Full record

ArticleRheumatology international2025

Use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among people living with Sjögren's: a cross-sectional survey using a modified international CAM questionnaire (I-CAM-Q).

Michelle Flood, Joan Ní Gabhann-Dromgoole, Gráinne Tynan, Niamh Dillon, Deirdre Collins, Monika Lauder, Eileen Sheehy, Frank Moriarty, James W Barlow

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Rheumatology international, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Patient opinion in rheumatology matters.Rheumatology international · 2025
    Article
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

9 authors.

Michelle FloodSchool of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland.ORCID 0000-0002-8284-1780
Joan Ní Gabhann-DromgooleSchool of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland.ORCID 0000-0002-4247-3952
Gráinne TynanSjögren's Ireland Advocacy Group, Dublin, Ireland.ORCID 0009-0006-6906-7563
Niamh DillonRCSI PPI Ignite Network, Office of Research and Innovation, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland.ORCID 0000-0002-7127-0740
Deirdre CollinsSjögren's Ireland Advocacy Group, Dublin, Ireland.
Monika LauderSjögren's Ireland Advocacy Group, Dublin, Ireland.
Eileen SheehySjögren's Ireland Advocacy Group, Dublin, Ireland.
Frank MoriartySchool of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland.ORCID 0000-0001-9838-3625
James W BarlowDepartment of Chemistry, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland. jambarlow@rcsi.ie.ORCID 0000-0002-1663-4580

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Sjögren's is a chronic autoimmune disease with diverse symptomatology, and varying patient satisfaction with management. Patients with chronic conditions are known to be higher users of complementary and alternative (CAM) practices, yet little information regarding extent of such use exists. This paper describes usage of CAM practices among people living with Sjögren's, encompassing visits to healthcare providers, CAM practitioners, self-administered CAM and self-help practices. We explored both purposes and perceived helpfulness of the various modalities utilised. 296 respondents completed an online survey administered through Sjögren's Research Ireland in 2023. An adapted form of the International Complementary and Alternative Medicine Questionnaire (I-CAM-Q) was utilised as the survey instrument. 88.5% of respondents had a formal diagnosis of Sjögren's. The majority (93.6%) were female, across all age groups. Over half (52%) of non-retired respondents were at least partially unable to work due to their diagnosis. Over half of all respondents (58.8%) listed at least one concomitant health problem. Most respondents (248, 83.8%) had used some form of CAM within the preceding 12 months. One-in-four had attended a CAM practitioner, most commonly chiropractors (8.4%) or acupuncturists (7.8%). Conventional healthcare and CAM providers were both consulted more commonly for management of chronic conditions or for well-being than for acute symptom management, although this was particularly stark for CAM consultations. 196 respondents (66.2%) reported use of self-administered CAM, predominantly vitamins/minerals or dietary supplements. 69.9% used various self-care practices, with the most reported being meditation, relaxation techniques and prayer. People living with Sjögren's attend both conventional healthcare providers and CAM practitioners to a high degree and use a diverse range of complementary therapies and practices. Health care professionals need to consider and discuss potential CAM use by this patient cohort and offer evidence-based patient education about therapies and practices encountered.

Indexed as

Complementary TherapiesSjogren's SyndromeAdultAgedCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansIrelandMaleMiddle AgedPatient SatisfactionSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultComplementaryIntegrativeMedicineQuestionnairesSjögren’s syndromeSurveysTherapies

Identifiers

PMID39976693
PMCPMC11842488

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.