Assessing Perceived Healthcare Access and Attitudes Towards Complementary and Alternative Medicine Amongst Parents in Cebu City

Ma. Bianca  Gonzales; Alyssa Belle  Prescillas; Kyla Angela  Chavez; Justine Rose  Relacion; Alexandre Louise  Lawas; Flordeliza Gagani

doi:10.37899/journallamedihealtico.v5i3.1216

Ma. Bianca Gonzales Basic, Education Department Senior High, University of San Carlos, Cebu City, Philippines
Alyssa Belle Prescillas Basic, Education Department Senior High, University of San Carlos, Cebu City, Philippines
Kyla Angela Chavez Basic, Education Department Senior High, University of San Carlos, Cebu City, Philippines
Justine Rose Relacion Basic, Education Department Senior High, University of San Carlos, Cebu City, Philippines
Alexandre Louise Lawas Basic, Education Department Senior High, University of San Carlos, Cebu City, Philippines
Flordeliza Gagani Basic, Education Department Senior High, University of San Carlos, Cebu City, Philippines

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37899/journallamedihealtico.v5i3.1216

Keywords: Accessibility, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Perceptions, Conventional Medicine

Abstract

With the pressing demands of healthcare for most families, especially parents, different perceptions and challenges can be drawn when accessing healthcare needs and services, which can potentially drive people to generate certain attitudes towards alternative treatments or CAM in addressing health disparities. Hence, this study aimed to measure the perceived healthcare access and attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among randomly selected fifty parents in a mountainous barangay in Cebu City, Philippines through a descriptive correlational approach. Data were collected using two valid and reliable 5-point adapted Likert-type survey questionnaires. Findings revealed that perceived healthcare access was rated average, while attitudes towards CAM were high. The variables were also not found to be significant r (48) = -.057, p = .694189, p > 0.05 at a = 0.05, thus accepting the null hypothesis of no significant relationship, and concluding that there is a weakly negative correlation (r = -.057) between the perceived healthcare access and attitudes towards CAM among the parents. This means that the views of parents regarding the availability and access to healthcare services do not entirely but can weakly influence their positive outlook towards alternative medicines and treatments, as it could potentially come from other factors such as inherited tradition, socio-cultural influence, preference, and prior experience of efficacy. This negative relationship suggests that limited healthcare access leads to more prominent use of alternative medicines, and vice versa. This study recommends implementing policy changes, emphasizing the need to improve access to services in low-income areas, especially in mountainous barangay.

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