RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Complementary and alternative medicine use among ischemic stroke survivors in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia JF Neurosciences Journal JO Neurosciences (Riyadh) FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City SP 362 OP 368 DO 10.17712/nsj.2020.5.20200088 VO 25 IS 5 A1 Tahani Alhawsawi A1 Maryam Alghamdi A1 Omnyah Albaradei A1 Huda Zaher A1 Wejdan Balubaid A1 Hessah A. Alotibi A1 Khalid Aboalshamat A1 Saeed Alzahrani YR 2020 UL http://nsj.org.sa/content/25/5/362.abstract AB Objectives: To determine the prevalence and pattern of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use and the CAM types used by stroke patients in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.Methods: This cross-sectional study included 152 ischemic stroke survivors who visited King Fahad Hospital, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, between January 2018 and December 2019. Phone-based and face-to-face surveys were conducted. Data on the patients’ demographic characteristics, their use of CAM, and their pattern of CAM use were gatheredResults: Ninety (59.2%) stroke patients used CAM, mainly cauterization (29.61%) and Quran recitation by a religious sheik (28.95%). Most of the patients (72.22%) used CAM post-hospitalization and within less than one month from stroke onset (62.22%). A minority (6.67%) of the patients stopped their medication while on CAM. Some patients (25.56% to 31.11%) discussed with their physician their use of CAM. The CAM users reported a subjective improvement in their physical weakness (45.6%) and psychological wellbeing (62.2%). The patients learned about CAM mainly from their relatives and friends (96.7%), and the most common reason for their CAM use was their belief in this intervention (42.22%).Conclusion: The CAM use was prevalent among our cohort of Saudi ischemic stroke patients, and cauterization and Quran recitation were the most commonly used CAM interventions. An effective communication was lacking between the medical professionals and the stroke patients as regards CAM use despite the interest of the patients in this intervention.