Factors Associated with CAM Use Among Cardiac Patients

This cross-sectional study was conducted among cardiac clinic attendees within the South–West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) of Trinidad and Tobago between 1 July 2012 and 31 August 2012. Quota sampling (i.e. successive sampling until the size of the sample is achieved) was used to select the participants. A total of 329 patients was the predetermined sample size required to estimate with a 5% margin of error the percentage of public cardiac clinic patients who use CAM [23 ]. To be eligible for participation, patients could not be confused (i.e. display problems with cognition or behaviour), as assessed by the student research assistant; had to be able to communicate verbally or in writing; and had to give consent. The data collection instrument was a self-completed questionnaire of 33 questions: seven questions on demographics; two questions on present cardiac condition; and the remaining questions on various aspects of CAM usage such as types, experiences, reasons, benefits, influences, effects and consequences, source, and access of CAM. Two medical students assisted participants who had difficulty understanding questions or who required clarification of questions.
Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS, version 20 (Chicago, IL, USA) using descriptive methods and inferential methods. The descriptive methods included frequency distribution tables and graphs. Inferential methods included tests of equality of proportions, chi-squared tests of association between selected sociodemographic and other attribute variables and CAM use (e.g. Fisher’s exact test and McNemar’s test of paired proportions). Binary logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with CAM use among patients. Eight independent variables were used such as sex, marital status, ethnicity, educational level, employment status, religion, religiosity, and area of residence. All hypotheses were tested at the 5% level of significance. Ethical approval was obtained from the Clinical Governance and Ethics Committee of South–West Regional Health Authority on 25 May 2012.