Daraghmeh Dala N, Salah Ahmad, Hamdan Nasim, Zamareh Abdallah
Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
PLoS One. 2025 Jul 23;20(7):e0320412. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0320412. eCollection 2025.
Influenza poses a major health challenge due to its variability and pandemic potential, making prevention crucial. The study aimed to explore the link between influenza vaccination and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices among Palestinian adults, along with factors influencing vaccination rates. It also evaluated participants' attitudes towards CAM and beliefs regarding herbal and vitamin use for influenza management.
A cross-sectional study was carried out between 18/02/2024 and 23/04/2024, during which a self-administered online questionnaire was shared through social media and personal communication. This questionnaire was aimed at all adults aged 18 and above. Both descriptive and regression analyses were performed.
The study included 363 participants, revealing an influenza vaccination rate of only 9%. A significant correlation was found between manipulative, body-based methods, mind-body medicine, and vaccination status (P-value<0.05), while no significant relationship was noted with herbal remedies or alternative medical systems. Higher income and better health status were linked to increased vaccination likelihood (P-value<0.05), indicating a need for targeted public health campaigns. Although 63% of participants were familiar with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), 34% had never used it for influenza, highlighting a knowledge gap. Popular natural remedies like Vitamin C, ginger, and honey reflect a trend toward preventive healthcare despite concerns over costs and skepticism about CAM's effectiveness.
Vaccine hesitancy is influenced by multiple factors, including context and types of CAM use. Cultural beliefs and personal health philosophies significantly shape attitudes toward CAM use and vaccination.
由于流感具有变异性和大流行潜力，对健康构成重大挑战，因此预防至关重要。本研究旨在探讨巴勒斯坦成年人中流感疫苗接种与补充和替代医学（CAM）实践之间的联系，以及影响疫苗接种率的因素。它还评估了参与者对CAM的态度以及对使用草药和维生素治疗流感的看法。
于2024年2月18日至2024年4月23日进行了一项横断面研究，在此期间通过社交媒体和个人交流分享了一份自我管理的在线问卷。该问卷针对所有18岁及以上的成年人。进行了描述性分析和回归分析。
该研究包括363名参与者，流感疫苗接种率仅为9%。发现手法、基于身体的方法、身心医学与疫苗接种状况之间存在显著相关性（P值<0.05），而与草药疗法或替代医学系统未发现显著关系。较高的收入和较好的健康状况与疫苗接种可能性增加相关（P值<0.05），表明需要开展有针对性的公共卫生运动。尽管63%的参与者熟悉补充和替代医学（CAM），但34%的人从未将其用于治疗流感，这凸显了知识差距。尽管对成本有所担忧且对CAM的有效性持怀疑态度，但维生素C、生姜和蜂蜜等常见的天然疗法反映了预防保健的趋势。
疫苗犹豫受多种因素影响，包括CAM使用的背景和类型。文化信仰和个人健康理念显著影响对CAM使用和疫苗接种的态度。
