Evaluation of the Use of Traditional and Complementary Medicine Practices and Knowledge Levels of Individuals

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the use of Traditional and Complementary Medicine practices and knowledge levels of individuals. This study is cross-sectional and descriptive. The sample of the study consisted of 366 individuals aged 18 years and over who agreed to participate in the study. Data were collected from individuals in the form of an online questionnaire. IBM SPSS 26.0 statistical software program was used for data analysis. The correct response rate of individuals to the question explaining phytotherapy was found to be 76.2%. When it comes to Traditional and Complementary Medicine practices, the method that comes to mind first is cupping with the highest rate (50%), and if they had the option to try Traditional and Complementary Medicine practices, they stated that they would prefer cupping with the highest rate (29.2%). 42.1% of the individuals stated that they did not use any of the Traditional and Complementary Medicine practices, and 20.5% stated that the method they benefited the most from Traditional and Complementary Medicine practices was cupping. 62.3% of the individuals stated that the side effects of herbal medicines were much less than normal medicines, 73.8% had not had cupping before, 12.5% had benefited from cupping, and 11.5% had someone outside of health perform cupping. Regarding leech treatment, 65.8% of the individuals stated that leech is beneficial because it absorbs dirty blood, while 89.6% stated that they did not have leech treatment. 6.3% of the individuals stated that they benefited from leech treatment, 6.3% stated that they had a non-health person apply it, 45.4% said that Traditional and Complementary Medicine practices were partially beneficial, 39.6% said that they were beneficial. As a result, a large proportion of individuals think that Traditional and Complementary Medicine practices are effective. However, the number of individuals who have Traditional and Complementary Medicine practices performed by individuals other than physicians is also high. In this case, nurses, who are health professionals, have important duties in terms of informing and counseling individuals. However, nurses should have information themselves before providing this information to individuals. Traditional and Complementary Medicine practices should be included in the undergraduate education of nurses and in the in-service training of nurses working in the active field, and experimental studies on Traditional and Complementary Medicine practices should be increased.