ArticleBMC public health2026
Social and cultural determinants of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM) use in primary care: the role of migration, health literacy, and religious orientation.
Article in BMC public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThis study examines whether migration background, health literacy, and religious-spiritual orientation are associated with the use of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM). In addition, the relationship between religious-spiritual orientation, Religious Orientation (RO), and different TCIM modalities was explored. From a public health perspective, migration background, health literacy, and social determinants may further influence patterns of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM) use. This study examines how religious orientation relates to the use of body-mind and biological TCIM approaches and whether these dimensions function as coping resources or determinants of health behaviour.
methodsBetween October 2023 and January 2024, 375 patients were recruited in a single-center primary care study. Data were collected using an anonymous questionnaire assessing TCIM use, health literacy, religious orientation, and sociodemographic characteristics.
resultsOf all participants, 19.5% reported a migration background. The most frequently used TCIM methods were physical activity (75.2%), vitamins and minerals (41.6%), and vitamin D (35.6%). Overall TCIM use was largely comparable between participants with and without a migration background, with a significant difference observed only for homeopathy (14.1% vs. 6.1%, p = 0.007). Participants with a migration background showed higher religious orientation scores, while specific RO were determined by religious affiliation. Health literacy levels were generally high and varied mainly by age, gender, and education, showing only weak associations with TCIM use. Female gender and higher educational level were the most consistent predictors of TCIM use.
conclusionTCIM use was common in primary care patients and showed little association with migration background or religious orientation, despite higher religiosity among migrants. Religiosity appears to function primarily as a psychosocial coping resource rather than a determinant of therapeutic behavior. From a public health perspective, TCIM use appears to be more strongly shaped by gender and educational level than by migration background or religious orientation. Female participants consistently reported higher use of several TCIM modalities, while educational level was primarily associated with lifestyle-related approaches such as physical activity. These findings underscore the importance of addressing social determinants and avoiding culturally stereotypical assumptions in primary care.
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.