Treatment Satisfaction with Persian Medicine in Patients with Insomnia

Background: Treatment satisfaction is a major contributor to treatment efficacy and its compliance in patients. Sleep disorders are among the common problems with insomnia as the epitome. Objectives: The current study aimed at assessing the degree to which patients with insomnia are satisfied with Persian medicine (PM) therapies. Methods: The current cross-sectional study was conducted in the PM Healthcare Clinic affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences in 2017. A total of 100 patients with insomnia signed written informed consent and completed the insomnia severity index (ISI) before and one month after receiving PM therapies. Moreover, patients completed the treatment satisfaction questionnaire after completion of the treatment course. The results were analyzed with SPSS software. Results: The ISI total score changed from 16.49 ± 3.87 to 12.53 ± 4.59 at the end of the study (P < 0.001). The score changed for all ISI items was statistically significant, except for the item “noticeability of sleep problems by others”. It was found that 76% of the subjects were satisfied with the efficacy of the treatments, 71% expressed satisfaction with the convenience and appropriateness of treatments, 81% did not report any complications using PM therapies, and 91% had an overall satisfaction with the treatments. Conclusions: PM therapeutic procedures can be effective in treating insomnia. According to the patients’ satisfaction with PM therapies for insomnia, it is suggested that the efficacy of these procedures be investigated through clinical trials.