A Cross-Sectional Study of the Attitudes and Perceptions towards BiologicallyBased Therapies in the United Arab Emirates
Journal Title: Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research (BJSTR) - Year 2018, Vol 11, Issue 4
Abstract
Biologically-Based Therapies (BBTs) are a subset of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Therapies that fall into four main categories; diet therapy, herbal therapy, orthomolecular therapy and chelation therapy. BBTs are universally assumed to be safe and are widely used for the prevention and treatment of diseases via the use of nutrition, vitamins, minerals, herbal supplements, and chelating agents. A cross-sectional survey was carried out by Ajman University students on residents of the United Arab Emirates as to assess their knowledge and use of BBTs. This study aimed at determining whether healthcare providers were aware of their patient’s use of BBTs and their safety profiles. Most respondents used BBTs, many of them lacked vital health information. Out of the respondents, 76% used herbal or other dietary supplements and 49% do not discus this with their healthcare providers. There is a significant amount of consumption coupled with insufficient awareness of BBTs in the UAE. Additionally, there is a lack of communication with healthcare providers and consumers of BBTs. As a result, consumers may potentially face inadvertent health complications depending on diet and other medications that are simultaneously being consumed.Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is “a group of diverse medical and healthcare systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine” [1]. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), CAM can be organized into the following categories: alternative medical systems, energy therapies manipulative and body based methods, mind-body interventions, and Biologically-Based therapies [2]. Due to the widespread use of CAM therapies, healthcare professionals are provided with continued medical education on the topic in addition to appropriate counseling techniques [3]. Biologically-Based Therapies (BBTs) are often used by patients in conjunction with conventional medicine and not simply as an alternative. BBTs consist of 4 types of therapies, namely: Diet, Herbal, Orthomolecular and Chelation Therapies [4-5].Diet therapy is the practical application of nutrition for the prevention or treatment of a disease. This includes inclusion of certain beneficial foods into one’s diet in order to promote wellness, while eliminating other foods to reduce harm. Herbal therapy involves the use of herbs for the purpose of treating common ailments and promoting general well being and is considered to be one of the earliest forms of healthcare. Orthomolecular therapy includes the use of vitamins, minerals, trace elements, electrolytes, fatty acids and amino acids for the purpose of treating specific conditions and/or preventing diseases. Chelation therapy involves the use of a binding agent that removes toxic metals or minerals, such as, lead, copper, iron, or calcium from the bloodstream [6]. In the past few decades, there has been an exponential growth in the use of diets, dietary supplements, and herbal compounds due to the assumption that their use is considered to be safe. It is assumed that these products promote general well-being through the prevention, correction and/or treatment of certain health conditions [7].
Authors and Affiliations
Nawsheen Torabally, Hananeh Abdolrahman Rahmanpoor, Elhadi N Mahmoud
Keywords
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- EP ID EP586195
- DOI 10.26717/BJSTR.2018.11.002136
- Views 143
- Downloads 0
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