Complementary alternative medicine practices and beliefs in spinal cord injury and non-spinal cord injured individuals

This study explores the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI), their friends and family (F&F), and healthcare professionals (HCP). It investigates whether these groups differ in their experiences with and attitudes toward CAM. A questionnaire was used to assess the use of 14 CAM modalities, willingness to use or recommend CAM, and general beliefs about CAM among the three participant groups. The results showed that SCI patients and their families were more likely to have used and recommend CAM compared to healthcare professionals. However, all three groups showed some willingness to try CAM in the future, and their general beliefs about CAM were similar.

• 1
  Patients with SCI and their friends and family were more likely than HCP to have used CAM.
• 2
  Patients with SCI and their friends and family were more likely to recommend CAM use.
• 3
  All three groups showed statistical significance in their willingness to ever use certain CAM modalities.