Allopathic medicine practitioners’ experiences with non-disclosure of traditional medicine use

This study examined the issue of patients’ nondisclosure of traditional medicine (TM) use to allopathic medicine practitioners (AMPs) in Gauteng Province, South Africa. While TM continues to be widely practiced and often used alongside allopathic medicine, patients frequently refrain from disclosing such use to their healthcare providers. This nondisclosure has significant implications for treatment outcomes, particularly where interactions between TM and prescribed medicines may occur. Understanding AMPs’ perspectives on this issue is therefore critical to improving patient care. The aim of the study was to explore the experiences of AMPs regarding patients’ nondisclosure of TM use in Gauteng. The research was conducted in four district hospitals where outpatient services are provided. A qualitative design was employed, following an interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach. Fourteen AMPs were purposively sampled to participate in face-to-face, semi-structured, one-on-one interviews. Data were systematically analysed using Atlas.ti to identify themes reflecting participants’ experiences and perceptions.The analysis yielded three major themes: the bedside manner of AMPs, the stigmatisation of TM use, and individual belief systems. Across these themes, a consistent finding was that patients often hesitated to disclose TM use because of fear of judgment, criticism, or negative reactions from AMPs. The study concluded that AMPs recognised that patients may experience guilt and stigma related to their TM practices. However, they also acknowledged that cultural and ethnic factors play a significant role in patients’ reliance on TM, and these factors cannot be overlooked in clinical care.The findings highlight that patients’ nondisclosure is strongly influenced by AMPs’ attitudes, their stigmatisation of TM, and their prejudices towards patients’ cultural beliefs. The study recommends that AMPs adopt patient-centred communication approaches that build trust and respect, thereby facilitating open ...