Use of Herbal and Alternative Medicines in Plastic Surgery
Author Information
Author(s): Collins Declan MBBS, MRCS, Oakey Steve FRCA, Ramakrishnan Venkat FRCS
Primary Institution: St Andrew's Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery
Hypothesis
What is the prevalence and reasons for the use of complementary and alternative medicines among plastic surgery patients?
Conclusion
A significant number of plastic surgery patients are using nonprescribed herbal and dietary supplements, which are not documented by their healthcare providers.
Supporting Evidence
- 44% of patients were taking a dietary supplement, herbal, or homeopathic remedy.
- None of the patients' use of CAM was documented in their medical records.
- 14 of the 15 patients taking herbal remedies were female.
Takeaway
Many people getting plastic surgery take herbal or dietary supplements, but doctors often don't ask about them or write them down.
Methodology
A prospective analysis of herbal and over-the-counter medicines used by elective plastic surgery patients.
Potential Biases
Patients may not disclose CAM use due to various reasons, including thinking it is not important for their doctor to know.
Limitations
The study did not establish whether patients were asked about CAM use, and documentation by healthcare providers was poor.
Participant Demographics
The majority of participants were female, with an average age of 56.96 years for females and 54.54 years for males.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
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