How are CAM Practices known, Perceived, and Used by People: Narrative Review of the Literacy, Attitude and Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Among Adults

Abstract

Background: Patients throughout the world frequently use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), especially to treat chronic or untreatable diseases. Since the standards for many chronic illnesses have shifted dramatically, researches have shown that many healthcare providers include integrative and holistic approach in their treatment programs. Therefore, this study evaluates people's literacy, attitudes, and usage of CAM modalities in the current setting. Methods: The thorough narrative review presented is carried out utilizing six computerized databases: Taylor & Francis Online, Research Gate, Frontiers, ScienceDirect, BioMed Central, and PubMed. The key word used for the search was Complementary and alternate medicine (CAM). The results were collected and subjected to content analysis. Results: The current data show that people who are employed, younger, and female likely to be more knowledgeable, have better attitudes, and use CAM frequently. Friends and family are the most frequent sources of knowledge about CAM. Conclusion: Further study is needed in this area due to the lack of studies that address CAM literacy and attitudes.