Publication: The association between traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) use with sociodemographic factors and HBA1C level among type 2 diabetes mellitus outpatients in Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia
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Date
2026
Authors
Jainal, Danny Iskandar
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Abstract
Malaysia. This chronic nature, coupled with the fear of long-term complications, contributes significantly to the increased tendency among patients to seek Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM) as an alternative or adjunct to conventional treatment. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia (HPUSM), Kelantan involving 141 adult patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) attending outpatient clinics. Participants were interviewed by using a validated questionnaire, while clinical data including the latest HbA1c results were obtained from medical records. A moderate prevalence of T&CM use (33.6%, n=47) was observed among the 140 respondents, approximately one in three T2DM outpatients in HPUSM, Kelantan were found to be using T&CM, with most users being female, aged 63 years and above, Malay, retirees, having secondary education, and from the B40 income group. However, no sociodemographic factors were significantly associated with T&CM use (p>0.05). Malay T&CM was the most commonly practiced modality (74.5%), mainly used as an additional treatment for diabetes and influenced by friends and advertisements. Although T&CM users recorded a slightly higher mean HbA1c level (8.41 ± 2.18%) compared to non-TCM users (8.12± 1.50%), no significant association was found between T&CM use and glycemic control or achievement of HbA1c targets (p>0.05). A key strength of this study was the use of objective laboratory-verified HbA1c data retrieved from medical records, reducing recall bias and improving the reliability of glycemic assessment. However, the use of convenience sampling and the single-centre study setting may limit the generalizability of the findings. Future studies are recommended to employ longitudinal or prospective study designs to better evaluate the longterm effects of T&CM use on glycemic outcomes and diabetes-related complications. Additionally, qualitative studies exploring patients’ beliefs, motivations, and perceptions regarding T&CM use may provide deeper insights into factors influencing healthcare decisions among individuals with T2DM.
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Keywords
Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM) , Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus(T2DM)