Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the General Public of Western Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the General Public of Western Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Background: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been continuously used worldwide. Various cultures have used this path of healing, and to our date, people are still using it and some even prefer it to modern medicine. Thus, this study aims to analyze awareness, self-use, perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes toward CAM in the general public of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A descriptive observational cross-sectional study was conducted in the public places of Jeddah. Data were collected from 784 participants using a self-administered paper-based questionnaire, and statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).

Results: The majority of the population was aware of massage (91.8%), herbs (90.7%), nutritional supplements (89.8%), and prayers (88.1%). With regards to usage and effectiveness, prayers and spirituality is used by 75.5% of the population and considered to be the most effective by 76.0%. Respondents obtained information about CAM mostly from friends and relatives (76.6%), followed by media (67.2%), while lack of knowledge about CAM and lack of trained professionals are the most perceived barriers to CAM implementation. Data showed a significant association (p < 0.05) between gender, awareness, and self-use of CAM modalities. Yoga (44.2%) and herbs (72.6%) were mostly used by females, whereas males were mostly aware of cupping (90.4%) and cauterization (76.2%). Another significant association was found between the level of education, awareness, and self-use of CAM modalities indicating that those who were not educated were aware of and used cauterization the most, while those who went to college were more aware of yoga (75.4%). Lastly, having a relative in the healthcare field showed a significant association with awareness of yoga, prayers, and spirituality compared to other CAM modalities.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the present study revealed that the majority of the Western Saudi Arabian population was aware of several CAM modalities and practiced some form of CAM. However, awareness of specific types of CAM may relate to gender, educational level, and relationship to the medical field.

Introduction

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is the use of traditional or non-conventional medicine to treat certain diseases, especially chronic diseases. CAM includes practices that go along with standard medical care or substitute it completely. “Complementary” medicine can include combining a form of traditional medicine with a conventional one, for example, the use of acupuncture to help lessen some side effects of conventional medical treatment. Alternative medicine entails replacing standard medical care completely with a technique or approach not considered part of conventional medicine [1].

The use of CAM has been continuously growing worldwide among adults and children. In the United States, studies showed that the use of yoga, meditation, and chiropractors had increased approximately from 22% in 2012 to 38% in 2017 among adults, and from 7% to 17% among children during that period [2,3]. One of the hallmarks of CAM is the use of herbs for the treatment and prevention of several diseases. 87% of the counted global population’s diseases are treated by drugs that are plant-based [4]. There is

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CDC director warns vaccine misinformation is a general public overall health danger

CDC director warns vaccine misinformation is a general public overall health danger

A modest but growing measles outbreak in central Ohio has sickened at least 77 kids, practically all under age 5. The broad the greater part are either unvaccinated or have been given just one of the two advised doses of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, according to Metropolis of Columbus General public Health.

Additional than a 3rd of the little ones have been hospitalized.

The outbreak, the premier in the U.S. given that 2019, is happening as resistance to school vaccination needs is spreading across the region.

On Friday, the Kaiser Family members Basis launched facts showing that 28% of adults surveyed this summer ended up from vaccination necessities for young ones getting into kindergarten, up from 16% in 2019.

The share of mom and dad who stated they ended up towards vaccination requirements for faculty was even better. This calendar year, 35% of surveyed mom and dad stated it ought to be up to moms and dads no matter whether to have their kids vaccinated, up from 23% in 2019.

“Which is a very considerable adjust in a few several years,” explained Lunna Lopes, a senior study analyst for KFF’s Public View and Study Investigation staff.

The primary driver of the raise has been the discussion in excess of vaccination mandates for the duration of the pandemic, Lopes claimed. The survey did not propose individuals stopped believing in the need to have for vaccines instead, the change mirrored a change in attitudes toward vaccination requirements to attend faculty.

KFF Covid-19

“It was the controversies and the local climate of Covid vaccines and the vaccine mandates that experienced an affect,” Lopes mentioned.

Tens of countless numbers of youngsters throughout the U.S. have by now fallen driving in vaccinations for conditions like measles, chickenpox or polio, a development that has been bubbling for a long time but accelerated for the duration of the pandemic.

Doctors’ appointments skipped for the duration of the 1st decades of Covid contributed to a dip in childhood vaccination fees, but it really is the onslaught of vaccine disinformation that continues to place younger young children at threat for preventable loss of life and ailment, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Facilities of Disease Regulate and Prevention, informed NBC Information.

“As I consider about the issues that we have to community wellbeing, vaccine misinformation is among the the major threats,” she claimed.

The CDC is anticipated to release new knowledge on the amount of childhood vaccinations early upcoming 12 months. In its previous report, the selection of absolutely vaccinated children getting into kindergarten in the slide of 2020 fell by 1% when compared to the preceding yr.

It’s not just regimen vaccinations that have taken a hit.

Just 42% of kids beneath age 18 have experienced their flu photographs this year, in accordance to CDC facts. And the American Academy of Pediatrics mentioned the broad greater part of children ages 4 and younger — 90% — have not gotten the current Covid shot.

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How Substantially Health and fitness Insurers Shell out for Virtually Anything Is About to Go General public

How Substantially Health and fitness Insurers Shell out for Virtually Anything Is About to Go General public

Shoppers, employers, and just about everybody else fascinated in health and fitness treatment costs will before long get an unprecedented look at what insurers pay back for treatment, possibly encouraging reply a dilemma that has very long dogged all those who invest in insurance: Are we acquiring the most effective offer we can?

As of July 1, wellness insurers and self-insured businesses ought to write-up on sites just about every cost they’ve negotiated with companies for well being care products and services, product by product. About the only point excluded are the prices compensated for prescription medicines, besides these administered in hospitals or doctors’ places of work.

The federally expected data launch could have an effect on potential prices or even how companies contract for health and fitness care. A lot of will see for the very first time how effectively their insurers are doing in contrast with other individuals.

The new principles are much broader than those people that went into outcome final yr demanding hospitals to submit their negotiated costs for the public to see. Now insurers need to write-up the amounts paid out for “every doctor in network, each individual hospital, every single surgical procedure heart, each individual nursing facility,” stated Jeffrey Leibach, a partner at the consulting firm Guidehouse.

“When you commence carrying out the math, you are speaking trillions of information,” he reported. The fines the federal authorities could impose for noncompliance are also heftier than the penalties that hospitals deal with.

Federal officers discovered from the hospital knowledge and gave insurers additional way on what was predicted, claimed Leibach. Insurers or self-insured employers could be fined as a lot as $100 a working day for every single violation, for every influenced enrollee if they fall short to present the facts.

“Get your calculator out: All of a unexpected you are in the hundreds of thousands very speedy,” Leibach said.

Decided people, specifically people with large-deductible wellbeing options, may possibly check out to dig in right away and use the facts to try evaluating what they will have to shell out at unique hospitals, clinics, or doctor workplaces for particular expert services.

But just about every database’s huge measurement may perhaps indicate that most individuals “will obtain it quite really hard to use the info in a nuanced way,” mentioned Katherine Baicker, dean of the University of Chicago Harris College of Community Plan.

At minimum at very first.

Business people are envisioned to rapidly translate the facts into additional person-welcoming formats so it can be included into new or current providers that estimate prices for people. And beginning Jan. 1, the policies call for insurers to give on line resources that will support men and women get upfront price estimates for about 500 so-identified as “shoppable” providers, indicating health-related care they can agenda ahead of time.

At the time these issues materialize, “you’ll at least have the options in entrance of you,” claimed Chris Severn, CEO of

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General public encouraged to watch air high quality | Health and Conditioning

General public encouraged to watch air high quality | Health and Conditioning

With spring burning year underway, the Lincoln-Lancaster County Well being Section (LLCHD) encourages area people to observe the Air Excellent Index (AQI) to establish if ranges of smoke in the air are harmful.

About the future six to 8 weeks, smoke from managed burning across the Flint Hills of Kansas and Oklahoma could trigger elevated smoke ranges in Lincoln and Lancaster County. Popular drought circumstances in the course of the central and western U.S. have also greater the risk of wildfires.

Smoke from controlled burning and wildfires can result in well being issues, particularly for kids, older older people and those people with bronchial asthma, lung disorder, other respiratory ailments or heart sickness. Those people at danger are encouraged to check out the AQI before carrying out any strenuous functions outdoors, choose a lot of breaks and observe for symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, problems breathing or chest soreness.

The LLCHD displays air quality 24 hrs a working day, and the Air High-quality Index (AQI) at airnow.gov is up-to-date hourly. The Environmental Safety Agency (EPA) also gives AirNow and SmokeSense intelligent telephone programs to support individuals stay knowledgeable of the AQI in their location.

Individuals are also reading…

The air quality stages are colour-coded on the AQI chart as follows:

• AQI values below 100 (eco-friendly or yellow) are not expected to cause health issues for the huge vast majority of men and women.

• AQI values concerning 101 and 150 (orange) reveal that air good quality is harmful for sensitive individuals. People today with bronchial asthma really should observe their asthma motion plans and have quick aid drugs quickly readily available. Young children, older grownups and those people with heart or lung disease really should lower extended or hefty exertion throughout out of doors actions.

• AQI values greater than 150 (red, purple and maroon) show that air top quality is unhealthy for all individuals. Out of doors things to do really should be moved indoors or rescheduled to a time when air high-quality will be better. Children, older grownups and persons with asthma or coronary heart or lung disease need to stay away from extended or heavy exertion throughout out of doors things to do. All other individuals must lower extended or major exertion throughout out of doors functions and consider more breaks in the course of those routines.

When air good quality is harmful, those people at risk can further more secure their overall health by keeping indoors, retaining home windows and doors closed, working with a HEPA filter and using the recirculate location when making use of a car or truck air conditioner. Individuals who expertise problems respiration, coughing, strange fatigue, coronary heart palpitations, tightness in the upper body or angina should really make contact with a healthcare care provider.

For extra data on LLCHD, visit lincoln.ne.gov/health.

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Biden administration extends general public wellness emergency for Covid-19

Biden administration extends general public wellness emergency for Covid-19

Wellness and Human Products and services Secretary Xavier Becerra prolonged the the Covid-19 community health and fitness crisis Friday, continuing the declaration for one more 90 times.

The most current declaration was posted to the HHS Workplace of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, and it will enable several general public well being protections and fiscal help packages to continue on for at minimum another a few months.

The most current community wellbeing emergency declaration goes into effect Sunday.

The general public wellness agency did not immediately reply to a ask for for comment, but Kirsten Allen, a spokesperson for Overall health and Human Services, claimed Wednesday that “HHS will offer states with 60 days’ recognize prior to any possible termination or expiration in the future,” which has been the ongoing dedication of the Biden administration.

This is the eighth time the declaration has been prolonged since it was announced  Jan. 27, 2020.

There is expanding concern about what will transpire the moment the public wellbeing crisis declaration comes to an conclusion, as it will begin the unraveling of the expansive aid program and finish critical flexibilities that have aided the energy to respond to the pandemic.

Those supports maximize the availability of grant and appropriation funding to regional governments and teams doing work to protect against and treat the virus, make it possible for wellbeing treatment vendors obtain to the billions of bucks allocated to the HHS Service provider Reduction Fund, make it possible for states to waive specific regulatory necessities as they continue to react to the pandemic, and broaden entry to telehealth and telemedicine abilities.

NBC Information previously noted that up to 15 million men and women, together with 6 million youngsters, are at risk of dropping Medicaid coverage once the general public wellness unexpected emergency ends, as it would bring about states to reduce federal funding and the flexibility to retain folks on the Medicaid rolls without the need of consistently checking on their eligibility.

Daniel Tsai, the director of the Middle for Medicaid and CHIP Companies who was appointed in June, explained in the December report that his workplace has produced a doing work group with about 25 state Medicaid agencies to focus on ideal methods on how to technique a challenge that he referred to as “unprecedented.” 

The company prepared a checklist for states to stimulate them to start out to communicate the issues and to work closely with health treatment navigators, neighborhood groups and other folks to be certain as smooth a changeover as possible. 

The hope is to ensure that all those who continue to be eligible manage coverage and people who don’t changeover to other varieties of wellbeing insurance policy.

“We test to be extremely cognizant of the realities on the ground, and also producing sure we are employing — I pretty much suggest — just about every lever probable to aid protect coverage and obtain for folks,” Tsai mentioned past month. 

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Newly divided Virginia General Assembly kicks off session | Health and Fitness

Newly divided Virginia General Assembly kicks off session | Health and Fitness
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