The prevalence, pattern of use and impact of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) among patients with end stage renal disease undergoing haemodialysis at a tertiary health facility in Ghana

The drive to improve or recover after being diagnosed with chronic conditions often leads many patients to explore alternative treatments alongside conventional medical care. Despite the availability of advanced conventional medicines, there is a growing trend towards the use of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM), particularly among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, there is limited information on TCAM use among ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis. This study evaluated the prevalence and pattern of TCAM use among ESRD patients receiving hemodialysis at a tertiary healthcare facility in Ghana. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 246 ESRD patients who underwent hemodialysis at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital between 2018 and 2021. The sample population was selected using systematic random sampling. Data analysis was performed using Stata version 14, and logistic regression was employed to examine the associations between TCAM use and various sociodemographic factors. We observed that 54.5% of the patients utilized some form of TCAM, which were mostly herbal therapies. Except for religious beliefs, factors such as gender, education, occupation, and marital status were significantly associated with TCAM usage. Although 89.4% of the patients who used TCAM showed improvement during treatment, a notable proportion of the mortalities (85.7%, n=14) was linked to TCAM use. TCAM use was highly prevalent among ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, though it was less associated with successful disease management. It is recommended that stakeholders, healthcare providers, and policymakers should enhance regulation, quality assurance, and evidence-based research on TCAM to ensure the safety of patients.