Supervisors info:
Γεώργιος Γκιόκας, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ, Επιβλέπων
Νικολέττα Ιακωβίδου, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Αθανάσιος Χαλκιάς, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Ιατρικής, Πανεπιστήμιο Θεσσαλίας
Summary:
INTRODUCTION-AIM: The use of herbal and alternative medicine products, by surgical patients, and the preoperative assessment of them, by the doctors, in Greek hospitals, is unclear. Aim of this survey is the documentation of the use and the knowledge on these products, by patients and doctors, in one hospital.
MATERIAL-METHODS: Over a two month period, a survey was conducted in a tertiary hospital of Attica region, Greece, investigating the use of herbal and alternative medicine products, during the immediate preoperative period, and the preoperative assessment of these products. Questionnaires were distributed to 100 patients and to 51 doctors of the surgical section of the hospital, investigating the use of these substances, the knowledge on them and the preoperative assessment of their use. Data were evaluated, using descriptive statistics and chi-square.
RESULTS: 9% of the patients admitted using herbal and alternative medicine products, during the immediate preoperative period. 66% of them mentioned that they are aware of these products and their use, but, only 8% of the patients answered that the use of such products may negatively affect their perioperative course. Finally, 81% of the patients answered that they were not asked about the use of such products, during the preoperative assessment. Mostly the answers, concerning the knowledge on these products and their use, had variations among the various demographic characteristics. 41% of the doctors believe that the use of herbal and alternative medicine products might negatively influence the surgical procedure, whereas 37% of them ask, specifically, about the use of these products.
CONCLUSION: The percentage of the patients, using herbal and alternative medicine products, during the immediate preoperative period, is low. The design of the survey and the particular characteristics of the sample, differentiate some of the results from those described in the literature. It is important to emphasize the low percentage of patients who were checked, during the preoperative assessment, for the use of such products. It is suggested to discontinue these products, during the perioperative period, because the complications that might happen are of great importance.
Keywords:
Herbal dietary supplements, Alternative medicine, Surgery, Anaesthesia
