The use of phytotherapy by hospital outpatients
Type de matériel :
54
Nowadays, allopathic medicine is always or nearly always pitted against alternative and complementary medicine. One has an ever increasing amount of technical accuracy, while the other takes a holistic approach to health. We evaluated phytotherapy use in our outpatients, something that is rarely discussed during our consultations. Four hospital practitioners: an algologist, an addictologist, an infectiologist, and an internist, along with a botanist, designed a questionnaire that was distributed to outpatients over a two-month period. Of the 442 questionnaires submitted, 336 could be analyzed. Alternative and complementary medicine was used by 70% of patients surveyed. Phytotherapy was the most frequent, mentioned by 204 patients (accounting for 86% of alternative and complementary medicine mentions). Phytotherapy was of use to all of these patients. It was mentioned in 90% of algology cases where it could be prescribed, and between 50 and 70% in other specialties. It was most often used by women and by managers. Half of prescriptions came from therapists (regulated or non-regulated), and half from family members. Plants came mainly from a pharmacy or an organic store. Eleven plants accounted for 60% of mentions. Plants were mainly used to address general or functional symptoms (fatigue, sleep, anxiety, digestion, cold, cough). Their effectiveness was evaluated by patients at 7/10. The safety of phytotherapy was good, with a side-effect rate of 6%, and there were no severe side effects. Phytotherapy use, perceived as effective by most of the patients, is common among hospital outpatients, and should be taken into consideration to improve overall patient care.
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