Evaluation of the Use, Reasons, and Satisfaction with the Complementary Medicine among Patients Living with a Permanent Ostomy

Patients living with a permanent ostomy encounter many physical, psychological, and social challenges due to the loss of function of a part of their body. Today, as the use of alternative therapies increases, some of these patients are seeking complementary medicine to relieve the symptoms and complications of their disease. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the use of, reasons for, and satisfaction with the complementary medicine among patients living with a permanent ostomy. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 patients living with a permanent ostomy who were referred to ostomy clinics in southeastern Iran. The census method was used for sampling. The research tool included a complementary medicine questionnaire. SPSS-25 was used for data analysis. The results showed that in physical methods, most of the participants used herbal medicines (83%), aromatherapy (79%), vitamin supplements (76%), and diet (66%). In mental methods, most of the participants used prayer/recourse/vow (91%) and music therapy (75%) (every day to several times a year). People with university education (p < 0.001), higher incomes (p = 0.002), and history of addiction (p = 0.048) used more methods of complementary medicine. Fifty-three point four of the participants used herbal medicines to reduce physical complications, 46.6% used them to improve anxiety and stress induced by ostomy, and between 66 and 80% was completely satisfied with the use of various types of complementary medicine. The study results showed that the frequency of complementary medicine use among patients living with a permanent ostomy varied from a few days to several years. Considering the use of complementary medicine by these patients, educational programs, and interventions are necessary to increase the general awareness of ostomy patients about the types of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and the effects of these methods.