reasons of using complementary and alternative medicines in Karachi, Pakistan
Description
Hypothesis: Hypothesis is null. Data collection: 200 individuals were approached (family, friends acquaintences and others), among them 193 were CAM (complementary and alternative medicines) users. So, here is the data file used to figure out results. Data collecting tool was a structured questioner. First part is consist of demographic details and second part focuses reasons or causes of using CAM. SPSS (statistical package of social science software) was used to evaluate results. [Note: we did not checked the prevelance of CAM users but focused on causes] Participants we included in our research were from age group 26 to 70 years (divided them into three categories). After analysis, age group of 26 to 40 years old were found using more CAM than any other age group. Most of them were belong to lower- middle class. Using CAM is more associated with female gender (56%). Most frequent reason of using CAM was side effects of traditional medicine (44%) and we also found another important reasons of using CAM that people were disappointed that traditional medicine is not working (36%), and they considered CAM the only way to cure disease (40.9%) and 26.9% participants were wanting to try everything that may help them to fight with their diseases. 23.3% of them have chosen CAM due to low cost. Most reported side effects were G.I disorders and second was hypersensitivity. According to our observation 40.9%participants think that CAM will directly cure their diseases. We found that 51.8% participants came to know about CAM from their family and 30.6 % from friends. how to interpret this data: Our goal was to figure out the stats. of different types of CAM, reasons and factors which alters an individual's priority towards CAM. [Note: we did not use this data to find out relationship b/w two or more variables and thats why no specific types of tests were used to interpret the data.]