Research Article

The Effect of Complementary and Supportive Medicine Practices on Sleep and Quality of Life in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Cross-Sectional Study

Volume: 6 Number: 3 December 4, 2025
TR EN

The Effect of Complementary and Supportive Medicine Practices on Sleep and Quality of Life in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic disease of unknown etiology with a chronic course involving multiple joints and systems. RA may induce pain, swelling in the joints, and loss of function in individuals. there has been no published study to date that examined the use of CAM in RA patients in terms of sleep and quality of life. Objective: This study aimed to determine the CAM (Complementary and Supportive Medicine) methods used by patients with RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis) and the effects of CAM methods on sleep and quality of life. Material and methods: This research was conducted cross-sectionally. 190 patients with RA were included in the study. Data were collected using a patient information form, the Quality-of-Life Measurement for Rheumatoid Arthritis, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The demographic, socioeconomic, disease, and treatment characteristics of CAM and non-CAM users were determined. Results: Demographic, socioeconomic, disease and treatment characteristics of CAM users and users were determined. While 60.5% of the patients stated that they used at least one type of CAM, 39.5% stated that they did not use CAM. There was no significant difference between CAM users and non-CAM users in terms of age, gender, education level, marital status and income status. CAM use approaches and reasons differ according to the expectation and choice of patient, patient’s sociocultural background, and religious properties. In this study, it was observed that RA patients using TAT had high average quality of life scores and high average sleep quality scores. Conclusions: The results of this study showed a high rate of CAM use. Moreover, patients attended regular check-ups and used CAM methods together with drug treatment. Patients who used CAM did not inform their doctor or nurse about this issue, and they used CAM methods because they thought that they were beneficial. Healthcare professionals are advised to ask patients about the TAT methods they use and to assess their sleep patterns and quality of life.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

Before starting the study, approval from the non-invasive research ethics committee of the Kafkas University Faculty of Health Sciences (date: 28/02/2022 and number: 81829502.903/21) and written permission from the hospitals where the study was conducted were obtained. The participants were informed about the purpose and method of the study and that participation was entirely voluntary, and written consent was obtained. The research was conducted in accordance with the Principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

​Internal Diseases Nursing​

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

December 4, 2025

Submission Date

July 26, 2024

Acceptance Date

November 30, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 6 Number: 3

APA
Şahin, Z., & Demirel, Y. (2025). The Effect of Complementary and Supportive Medicine Practices on Sleep and Quality of Life in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Cross-Sectional Study. YOBÜ Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi, 6(3), 366-377. https://izlik.org/JA77JX49YE
AMA
1.Şahin Z, Demirel Y. The Effect of Complementary and Supportive Medicine Practices on Sleep and Quality of Life in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Cross-Sectional Study. YOBÜ Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi. 2025;6(3):366-377. https://izlik.org/JA77JX49YE
Chicago
Şahin, Zümrüt, and Yunus Demirel. 2025. “The Effect of Complementary and Supportive Medicine Practices on Sleep and Quality of Life in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Cross-Sectional Study”. YOBÜ Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi 6 (3): 366-77. https://izlik.org/JA77JX49YE.
EndNote
Şahin Z, Demirel Y (December 1, 2025) The Effect of Complementary and Supportive Medicine Practices on Sleep and Quality of Life in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Cross-Sectional Study. YOBÜ Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi 6 3 366–377.
IEEE
[1]Z. Şahin and Y. Demirel, “The Effect of Complementary and Supportive Medicine Practices on Sleep and Quality of Life in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Cross-Sectional Study”, YOBÜ Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 366–377, Dec. 2025, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA77JX49YE
ISNAD
Şahin, Zümrüt - Demirel, Yunus. “The Effect of Complementary and Supportive Medicine Practices on Sleep and Quality of Life in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Cross-Sectional Study”. YOBÜ Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi 6/3 (December 1, 2025): 366-377. https://izlik.org/JA77JX49YE.
JAMA
1.Şahin Z, Demirel Y. The Effect of Complementary and Supportive Medicine Practices on Sleep and Quality of Life in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Cross-Sectional Study. YOBÜ Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi. 2025;6:366–377.
MLA
Şahin, Zümrüt, and Yunus Demirel. “The Effect of Complementary and Supportive Medicine Practices on Sleep and Quality of Life in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Cross-Sectional Study”. YOBÜ Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi, vol. 6, no. 3, Dec. 2025, pp. 366-77, https://izlik.org/JA77JX49YE.
Vancouver
1.Zümrüt Şahin, Yunus Demirel. The Effect of Complementary and Supportive Medicine Practices on Sleep and Quality of Life in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Cross-Sectional Study. YOBÜ Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi [Internet]. 2025 Dec. 1;6(3):366-77. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA77JX49YE