Caring Older Adults with Chronic Diseases through Traditional Medicine

Abstract

Introduction: Traditional medicine is used because of the prevalence of chronic diseases. Care through this is an option for older adults.

Objective: To describe the care of older adults with chronic diseases through traditional medicine.

Methods: A qualitative study with ethnographic approach was conducted in Guanajuato, Mexico, from December 2022 to June 2023. The selection criteria were older adults aged over 60 years with a diagnosis of chronic disease (diabetes mellitus type 2, hypertension) and using traditional medicine. Convenience sampling was performed with 10 participants. The data collection was done by semistructured audio-recorded interview. The ethnographic analysis method was carried out in three steps. All participants signed the informed consent.

Results: The following categories emerged: meaning of traditional medicine, source of knowledge, used traditional medicine, perceived benefits of traditional medicine, conventional medicine, and traditional medicine: complementarity.

Conclusions: The most widely used traditional medicine was herbal medicine, whose sources of knowledge were from generation to generation by digital means; the participants prefer conventional medicine for its speed and convenience, and consider the use of herbal medicine as a complement for the care of the disease. The use of traditional medicine represents an opportunity for nursing within cultural variety.