factors influencing preferences for traditional and complementary medicine offered by informal practitioners in türkiye

Traditional and complementary medicine (t&cm) has a long history and is gaining global popularity. in europe, official regulations are increasingly shaping its practice. standardized definitions, country-specific core practices, and reporting guidelines are suggested to enhance study quality. this study aims to identify and evaluate key factors influencing the preference for t&cm services provided by informal providers in türkiye. the study was conducted in karaman, türkiye, among informal practitioners, service users, and experts. a purposive sampling method was used, and data were collected through semi-structured face-to-face interviews with 20 participants. thematic analysis was performed using maxqda 18 software, with 680 minutes of recorded interviews transcribed and analyzed. participants had a mean age of 36 years, 75% had an income at least twice the minimum wage, and 62.5% were male. the most used methods were cupping (hijama), chiropractic intervention, and phytotherapy. factors influencing t&cm preference included contemporary medicine-based orientations, a positive attitude towards t&cm, a positive attitude towards practitioners, religion-based factors, feelings of helplessness, recollections, and experiences, non-serious conditions, and a lack of awareness or education. understanding these determinants is crucial for healthcare professionals and managers to integrate t&cm into regulated healthcare settings, ensuring safer and more controlled treatment options.