M E D I C U S - Shoqata e Mjekëve Shqiptarë të Maqedonisë-Hipokrati

influence of different demographic characteristics on the use of complementary and
alternative methods in patients. The results of these studies give data for the prevalence
and types of most commonly used therapies as well as data for particular reasons for
which patients use these therapies [8-10] . Moreover, some studies investigated the
characteristics of alternative and complementary therapy use in patients suffering from
particular disorder [11-13] .
Data for the use of alternative and complementary medicine among patients
suffering from musculoskeletal disorders in Skopje is limited.
Objectives of this study were to get initial data on the use of alternative medicine
in a group of outpatients suffering from musculoskeletal disorders, health problems that
led them to use it, sociodemographic characteristics of user of alternative medicine and
communication between users and their doctor.
AIM
Objectives of our study were to get data on the alternative medicine methods use
in a group of 180 ambulatory outpatients suffering from musculoskeletal disorders,
sociodemographic characteristics of user of these therapies and communication between
users and their doctors.
METHODS
We interviewed 180 patients suffering from musculoskeletal disorders for
alternative and complementary medicine use. A special questionnaire was designed for
collecting the data. The questionnaire contained 2 parts. The first part was filled by all
patients and it contained questions for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of
the patients as well as questions if alternative and complementary medicine were used for
treating their musculoskeletal disorders. Those patients that claimed to be users of these
methods filled in the second part of the questionnaire. The second part contained
questions for type of alternative medicine used, reasons for referring to those therapies
and if they have informed their physician for being users.
Inclusion criteria were age above 18, presence of a musculoskeletal disorder and
ability of the patient to answer the questions. Non-inclusion criteria were age below 18
and inability to participate in the interview. Based on the collected data, we formed 2
groups- users and non-users of alternative and complementary medicine. We used
Statistica for Windows 7 to perform the statistics.
RESULTS
Our study included 180 patients from which 78 were females and 102 males. The
patients were aged from 18 to 82. Most commonly reported disorders were degenerative
rheumatic disorders (spondylosis, single joint arthrosis including gonarthrosis and discus
hernia) from which 146 patients suffered, followed by acute sport or occupational injuries
(20 patients) and musculoskeletal complaints due to Parkinson`s disease (14 patients).
Pain and limitation of movements were the most important complaints for asking medical
help. The results of our study showed that 134 patients (74, 4%) have used some type of
alternative or complementary medicine for treatment of the existing musculoskeletal
complaint and 46 patients (25, 6%) claimed to be non users of those methods. Most