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Original Research



Knowledge, attitude and practice of cupping therapy among Saudi patients attending primary healthcare in Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Sultan Sameer Ghazi.




Abstract

Background: The practice of Al-Hijamah has been part of Middle-Eastern cultural practice for thousands of years with citations dating back to the time of Hippocrates (400 BC). Up to date there are no scientifically approved research trials anywhere in the world which investigated the impact of cupping at a physiological level, although numerous small scale studies have been done promoting the benefits of cupping for various diseases.

Objectives: To explore the knowledge, attitude, and practicing of Saudi population regarding to Al-Hijamah, as one of the old traditional modality of treatments.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted through the period from October 1, 2011 to March 30, 2012. It included a representative sample of male adult patients (>18 years old), who attended primary health-care centers (PHCs) in Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) throughout the study period. Makkah was divided into four regions; one PHC was selected from each region using simple random sampling technique. One-hundred patients were selected from each center using a systematic random sampling technique. Every second patient who attended the selected PHCs was invited to voluntarily participate in the study. A pre-designed questionnaire was utilized. This questionnaire included information regarding: personal data, knowledge, attitude, and practice of cupping therapy among participants.

Result: The study included 400 adult male patients attended PHC, Makkah throughout the study period. Their ages ranged between 18 and 73 years. Approximately two-thirds of the participants (61.5%) have their information about cupping therapy from the community whereas only 11.8% and 11.3% have their information from TV and doctors, respectively. Most of them believed that Hijamah is a kind of prevention and treatment of diseases (82.3% and 88.5%, respectively). Two-thirds of the participants (269; 67.3%) have personal experience with Hijamah or experience of Hijamah among their friends or relatives. Among them, 240 (89.2%) reported that they got benefits from Hijamah. The majority of participants treated with Hijamah for back pain (97.9%), headache (96.6%), joint pain (91.7), hypersomnia (88.9%), and fatigue (84.3%) showed improvement compared to 68.2% among those performed Hijamah to treat other conditions (fever, bronchial asthma, dizziness, hyperlipidaemia, irritable bowel syndrome). This difference is statistically significant (p < 0.001). The majority of the participants (85.8%) reported that they are ready to repeat Hijamah or try it for the first time.

Conclusion: The knowledge and attitude of Saudi population toward cupping therapy (Hijamah) is sufficient. However, there is a need for training of persons who practicing Hijamah.

Key words: Hijamah, knowledge, attitude, practice, Saudi Arabia






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