Traditional and complementary medicine use among Ebola survivors in Sierra Leone: a qualitative exploratory study of the perspectives of healthcare workers providing care to Ebola survivors
Abstract Background Considerable number of patients, including Ebola survivors, in Sierra Leone, are using traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM). Healthcare providers’ (HCPs) views about T&CM is crucial in addressing the increased need for T&CM among patients. However, healthcare...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12906-020-02931-6 |
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| author | Peter Bai James Jon Wardle Amie Steel Jon Adams Abdulai Jawo Bah Stephen Sevalie |
| author_facet | Peter Bai James Jon Wardle Amie Steel Jon Adams Abdulai Jawo Bah Stephen Sevalie |
| author_sort | Peter Bai James |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Considerable number of patients, including Ebola survivors, in Sierra Leone, are using traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM). Healthcare providers’ (HCPs) views about T&CM is crucial in addressing the increased need for T&CM among patients. However, healthcare providers’ views about T&CM in Sierra Leone is unknown. Our study explores healthcare providers’ knowledge of and perception towards T&CM and how that influence their personal and professional T&CM use, communication with Ebola survivors about T&CM as well as its integration into the healthcare system in Sierra Leone. Methods We employed a qualitative exploratory study design using semi-structured interviews to collect data from 15 conveniently sampled HCPs in all four geographical regions of Sierra Leone. We analysed our data using thematic network analysis framework. Results Healthcare providers perceived their knowledge about T&CM to be low and considered T&CM to be less effective and less safe than conventional medicine as well as not evidence-based. HCPs perception of T&CM as non-scientific and their lack of knowledge of T&CM were the key barriers to HCPs’ self-use and recommendation as well as their lack of detailed discussion about T&CM with Ebola survivors. HCPs are open to T&CM integration into mainstream healthcare in Sierra Leone although at their terms. However, they believe that T&CM integration could be enhanced by effective professional regulation of T&CM practice, and by improving T&CM evidenced-based knowledge through education, training and research. Conclusion Changing HCPs’ negative perception of and increasing their knowledge about T&CM is critical to promoting effective communication with Ebola survivors regarding T&CM and its integration into the healthcare system in Sierra Leone. Strategies such as educational interventions for HCPs, conducting rigorous T&CM research, proper education and training of T&CM practitioners and effective professional regulation of T&CM practice could help in that direction. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T20:00:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-92f075a16313486abbf38647ecbcc238 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2662-7671 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T20:00:28Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies |
| spelling | doaj.art-92f075a16313486abbf38647ecbcc2382022-12-21T18:52:00ZengBMCBMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies2662-76712020-05-0120111110.1186/s12906-020-02931-6Traditional and complementary medicine use among Ebola survivors in Sierra Leone: a qualitative exploratory study of the perspectives of healthcare workers providing care to Ebola survivorsPeter Bai James0Jon Wardle1Amie Steel2Jon Adams3Abdulai Jawo Bah4Stephen Sevalie5Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology SydneyAustralian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology SydneyAustralian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology SydneyAustralian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology SydneyFaculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra LeoneFaculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra LeoneAbstract Background Considerable number of patients, including Ebola survivors, in Sierra Leone, are using traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM). Healthcare providers’ (HCPs) views about T&CM is crucial in addressing the increased need for T&CM among patients. However, healthcare providers’ views about T&CM in Sierra Leone is unknown. Our study explores healthcare providers’ knowledge of and perception towards T&CM and how that influence their personal and professional T&CM use, communication with Ebola survivors about T&CM as well as its integration into the healthcare system in Sierra Leone. Methods We employed a qualitative exploratory study design using semi-structured interviews to collect data from 15 conveniently sampled HCPs in all four geographical regions of Sierra Leone. We analysed our data using thematic network analysis framework. Results Healthcare providers perceived their knowledge about T&CM to be low and considered T&CM to be less effective and less safe than conventional medicine as well as not evidence-based. HCPs perception of T&CM as non-scientific and their lack of knowledge of T&CM were the key barriers to HCPs’ self-use and recommendation as well as their lack of detailed discussion about T&CM with Ebola survivors. HCPs are open to T&CM integration into mainstream healthcare in Sierra Leone although at their terms. However, they believe that T&CM integration could be enhanced by effective professional regulation of T&CM practice, and by improving T&CM evidenced-based knowledge through education, training and research. Conclusion Changing HCPs’ negative perception of and increasing their knowledge about T&CM is critical to promoting effective communication with Ebola survivors regarding T&CM and its integration into the healthcare system in Sierra Leone. Strategies such as educational interventions for HCPs, conducting rigorous T&CM research, proper education and training of T&CM practitioners and effective professional regulation of T&CM practice could help in that direction.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12906-020-02931-6EbolaEbola survivorsHealth personnelTraditional medicineComplementary therapiesPerception |
| spellingShingle | Peter Bai James Jon Wardle Amie Steel Jon Adams Abdulai Jawo Bah Stephen Sevalie Traditional and complementary medicine use among Ebola survivors in Sierra Leone: a qualitative exploratory study of the perspectives of healthcare workers providing care to Ebola survivors BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies Ebola Ebola survivors Health personnel Traditional medicine Complementary therapies Perception |
| title | Traditional and complementary medicine use among Ebola survivors in Sierra Leone: a qualitative exploratory study of the perspectives of healthcare workers providing care to Ebola survivors |
| title_full | Traditional and complementary medicine use among Ebola survivors in Sierra Leone: a qualitative exploratory study of the perspectives of healthcare workers providing care to Ebola survivors |
| title_fullStr | Traditional and complementary medicine use among Ebola survivors in Sierra Leone: a qualitative exploratory study of the perspectives of healthcare workers providing care to Ebola survivors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Traditional and complementary medicine use among Ebola survivors in Sierra Leone: a qualitative exploratory study of the perspectives of healthcare workers providing care to Ebola survivors |
| title_short | Traditional and complementary medicine use among Ebola survivors in Sierra Leone: a qualitative exploratory study of the perspectives of healthcare workers providing care to Ebola survivors |
| title_sort | traditional and complementary medicine use among ebola survivors in sierra leone a qualitative exploratory study of the perspectives of healthcare workers providing care to ebola survivors |
| topic | Ebola Ebola survivors Health personnel Traditional medicine Complementary therapies Perception |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12906-020-02931-6 |
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