Characteristics of fasting users among internal medicine patients in Germany

Lauche, R; Wardle, J; Ostermann, T; Adams, J; Langhorst, J; Dobos, G; Michalsen, A; Cramer, H

Characteristics of fasting users among internal medicine patients in Germany

Lauche, R

Wardle, J

Ostermann, T Adams, J

Langhorst, J Dobos, G Michalsen, A Cramer, H

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Advances in Integrative Medicine, 2018, 5 (1), pp. 29 - 34
Issue Date:: 2018-04-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Lauche, R https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4171-7935	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Wardle, J https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8813-3542	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Ostermann, T	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Adams, J https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9901-5717	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Langhorst, J	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Dobos, G	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Michalsen, A	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Cramer, H	en_US
dc.date.available	2020-05-25T19:11:16Z
dc.date.issued	2018-04-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Advances in Integrative Medicine, 2018, 5 (1), pp. 29 - 34	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	2212-9588	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/121520
dc.description.abstract	© 2017 Elsevier Ltd Aim: The aim of this cross-sectional analysis was to identify sociodemographic, and health related predictors for fasting use among patients of a large integrative internal medicine ward. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted among patients being referred to a hospital for internal and integrative medicine. Patients’ ever-use of fasting for their primary medical complaint and their perceptions of benefit and harm were assessed. The potential predictors of fasting use included sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviour, internal medicine diagnosis, health, satisfaction with health, and health locus of control; and they were analysed using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: Of 2144 respondents, 15.8% reported having used fasting, with 61.2% reporting perceived benefits and 3.9% harms due to use. Fasting use was positively associated with higher education, being diagnosed with osteoarthritis or fibromyalgia and regular fast food use, while patients with inflammatory bowel diseases, smokers, alcohol abstinent people and those with a high external social health locus of control were less likely to use fasting. A good health status and high internal locus of control were positively associated with the perception of fasting as helpful, while part-time employment, being diagnosed with inflammatory bowel diseases and being alcohol abstinent were negatively associated with perceived helpfulness. Conclusion: There is significant use of therapeutic fasting by integrative medicine patients in Germany, with high self-reported benefit and low self-reported harms. Use of fasting by patients was not related to evidence of efficacy of fasting for their condition, with other factors being more predictive of fasting use.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Advances in Integrative Medicine	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.aimed.2017.12.005	en_US
dc.title	Characteristics of fasting users among internal medicine patients in Germany	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	1	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	5	en_US
utslib.for	1104 Complementary and Alternative Medicine	en_US
utslib.for	1103 Clinical Sciences	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.issue	1	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	5	en_US

Abstract:

© 2017 Elsevier Ltd Aim: The aim of this cross-sectional analysis was to identify sociodemographic, and health related predictors for fasting use among patients of a large integrative internal medicine ward. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted among patients being referred to a hospital for internal and integrative medicine. Patients’ ever-use of fasting for their primary medical complaint and their perceptions of benefit and harm were assessed. The potential predictors of fasting use included sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviour, internal medicine diagnosis, health, satisfaction with health, and health locus of control; and they were analysed using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: Of 2144 respondents, 15.8% reported having used fasting, with 61.2% reporting perceived benefits and 3.9% harms due to use. Fasting use was positively associated with higher education, being diagnosed with osteoarthritis or fibromyalgia and regular fast food use, while patients with inflammatory bowel diseases, smokers, alcohol abstinent people and those with a high external social health locus of control were less likely to use fasting. A good health status and high internal locus of control were positively associated with the perception of fasting as helpful, while part-time employment, being diagnosed with inflammatory bowel diseases and being alcohol abstinent were negatively associated with perceived helpfulness. Conclusion: There is significant use of therapeutic fasting by integrative medicine patients in Germany, with high self-reported benefit and low self-reported harms. Use of fasting by patients was not related to evidence of efficacy of fasting for their condition, with other factors being more predictive of fasting use.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/121520