Abstract
Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) disorders significantly affect millions of people worldwide. Various types of conditions can affect the digestive system and impact digestion, mental health, and the well-being of an individual. Geographically dependent, it is estimated that 11% of the population suffer from a chronic digestive disease, with a prevalence rate as high as 35% for those 65 years and over. While conventional medicine has shown to improve the symptoms of GIT conditions significantly, it simultaneously has the potential to produce long-term adverse effects. Homeopathic medicines have been advocated in the treatment of GIT disorders, as they are considered safe and cost-effective. In South Africa, homeopathy is becoming an increasingly important part of healthcare provision. Evaluating the patient profile and treatment approach of a cohort of patients is a useful way of determining the effectiveness of treatment in a particular condition and allows for future implementation of enhanced patient management. To date, a patient profile and treatment approach of GIT disorders at the University of Johannesburg Homeopathic Health Centre (UJ HHC), has not been conducted.
This was a quantitative, retrospective study design. The population size was limited to the patients who had previously been to the UJ HHC from January 2019 to December 2020, and who had presented with a GIT complaint. Due to the limited sample size, no randomisation was implemented.
Permission was obtained from the Manager of the Health Training Centre and the Head Clinician of the UJ HHC to access the clinician database and patient files (Appendix D and E). Thereafter, all relevant patient file numbers were extracted from the clinicians’ database and transferred to a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 86 patient files were included in the study. Data was electronically entered onto the data collection sheet (Appendix F). The data obtained during the research study process was analysed and summarised using a descriptive analytic technique such as frequency tables, bar graphs and pie charts to represent the information graphically.
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The findings of the study determined that chronic GIT conditions are commonly treated at the UJ HHC and are done so in the classical unicist approach. The most common homeopathic remedies prescribed for GIT complaints include Lycopodium clavatum, Nux vomica, Arsenicum album, Phosphorus, Natrum muriaticum and Natrum phosphoricum with low and medium potencies being prescribed more often than higher potencies in both the initial and follow-up consultations. The demographic results show that the majority of patients were Black (74.4%) with 68.2% being female and 31.8% male. The two most prevalent age groups were 18-25 comprised mostly of students and 55 years and older being unemployed. The most prevalent GIT symptoms treated were abdominal pain followed by epigastric pain with stool symptoms related to constipation and diarrhoea. The most prevalent GIT condition was irritable bowel syndrome, followed by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Just under half of the patients had only one initial consultation, but those returning for at least 1 to 2 follow-up consultations, showed some degree of improvement, if not full recovery, in their condition with limited side effects experienced from the prescribed homeopathic treatment.
The study findings suggest that various homeopathic remedies can be effectively used to treat a wide range of GIT disorders with limited adverse effects.
This study further provided a definitive patient profile and homeopathic treatment approach of GIT disorders at the UJ HHC, allowing for facility coordinators to improve treatment protocols and conduct further research in the area.