Table 3

Stroke patient experience while on complementary and alternative medicine (n=90).

Time of CAM use*n (%)
Prehospitalization6 (6.67)
During hospitalization24 (26.67)
Posthospitalization65 (72.22)
Length of CAM use after stroke onset
<1 month56 (62.22)
1–3 months24 (26.67)
≥4 months10 (11.11)
Use of medication while on CAM
Discontinued their medications6 (6.67)
Used CAM while continuing their medications84 (93.33)
CAM and patient–physician experience*
Informed their doctor about CAM use28 (31.11)
Doctors asked their patients about CAM use23 (25.56)
With intention to discuss CAM use with their doctor73 (81.11)
Improvement reported after CAM use*
Subjective physical improvement41 (45.56)
Subjective psychological improvement56 (62.22)
Source of information*
Relatives/Friends87 (96.7)
Social media and the Internet3 (3.3)
Other patients7 (7.8)
  • * For this question, the participants could choose more than one answer