Investigation of the Attitudes of Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Towards Traditional Complementary Medicine Practices

Individuals with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease need the help and support of caregivers in issues such as limitations in their physical and social functions, inadequacy, social isolation, dependency, and continuing their daily lives. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines traditional medicine as knowledge, skills, and practices based on beliefs, experiences, and theories used for the prevention, diagnosis, recovery, and treatment of physical and mental disorders. Since traditional medicine varies from culture to culture, it covers different, unique treatments and practices of countries and even regions within countries. In some countries, these practices (CAM) are called 'alternative' and 'complementary'. There has been an increase in the use of complementary medicine in the last 30 years in developed and developing countries. While modern medical practices are used due to the supportive nature of complementary medicine, it is also used for purposes such as relaxing the patient, strengthening their immunity, and improving their psychological state. Patients diagnosed with COPD sometimes resort to alternative treatments. In parallel with the increase in life expectancy, the increase in chronic diseases such as COPD, which are difficult to care for and treat, the inability of healthcare professionals to allocate enough time, the suspicion of modern methods and possible side effects have greatly increased the interest in GETAT methods. The decrease in exercise capacity of COPD patients, frequent infection attacks, muscle weakness, and the accompanying anxiety and depression in these patients can be counted as reasons for increasing GETAT use. In light of this information, it was aimed to examine the attitudes of individuals with COPD towards GETAT use? Research Questions; What is the GETAT use status of individuals with COPD? What are the attitudes of individuals with COPD towards GETAT?