Analysis of the relationship between the use of traditional and complementary medical practices and health literacy levels in individuals with type II diabetes mellitus

Abstract

This research was conducted to examine the relationship between the use of Traditional and Complementary Medicine (TCM) and health literacy levels in individuals with Type II Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Ninety-eight patients staying in a university hospital between x and x and diagnosed with DM for at least one year were included in the study. Data were collected using a questionnaire (about patients’ individual characteristics, disease-related characteristics, and TCM-use) and the Turkey Health Literacy Scale-32 (THLS-32). The mean age of the patients was 57.73 ± 14.58 years, 65.3% were female, and 53.1% were receiving oral antidiabetic treatment. It was found that 19.4% used TCM. The most commonly used method (84.2%) was herbal medicine/product. Of the patients, 52.6% used TCM because they thought it would be effective in DM treatment, and 89.5% of this group considered using it again. It was found that 68.4% of the patients did not tell their doctor that they were using TCM. There was a statistically significant difference in the use of TCM in relation with the education level of the patients, working status, complications due to diabetes, and attending regular health check-ups (p<0.05). On the other hand, there was no significant difference in patients' behavior of using TCM in relation with their health literacy level. It was found that approximately one fourth of the patients with DM used TCM applications. The use of TCM was more common among patients with low education, those not working, those with complications due to diabetes, and those who did not attend regular health check-ups. Health literacy levels of the patients do not affect the behavior of using TCM.