The Relationship Between Knowledge and Attitude of Patients with Chronic Diseases Regarding Complementary Medicine

Background Evidence shows the effectiveness of complementary medicine and its use in the treatment of chronic diseases are increasing. Objectives This study aimed to determine the relationship between knowledge and attitude toward complementary medicine in patients with chronic disease and referred to a hospital in an urban area of Iran. Methods This cross-sectional correlation study was conducted with 400 patients with chronic diseases referred to a hospital in an urban area of Iran. The samples were chosen using convenience sampling. The patients’ knowledge and attitudes were assessed using a researcher-made questionnaire and the holistic complementary and complementary medicine questionnaire, respectively. Results The patients’ knowledge was the highest and lowest in the subscales of herbal medicine and energy therapy, respectively. Also, their attitudes mean regarding holistic health was better than attitude regarding scientific validity of complementary medicine (21.37 versus 15.88). There were statistically significant relationships between knowledge and attitude (r = 0.28, P < 0.001). While the relationship between knowledge regarding complementary medicine and attitude toward holistic health (r = 0.52, P < 0.001), its relationship with attitude toward the scientific validity of complementary medicine was reverse and negative (r = -.23, P < 0.001). Moreover, demographic variables such as the level of education, marital status, disease type, exercise habits, and information about the methods of complementary medicine had statistically significant relationships with the patients’ knowledge about complementary medicine. The frequency of consumption of vegetables per week (r = -0.18, P < 0.001) and the duration of disease (r = -0.16, P = 0.002) had a statistically significant reverse relationship with knowledge regarding complementary medicine. Conclusions Knowledge regarding herbal medicine was high in patients with chronic diseases. Given a lack of sufficient knowledge and poor attitudes about other aspects of complementary medicine, patients need more education about the significance of complementary medicine and its positive effects on their health.