Figure 1
PRISMA diagram.
Table 1
Study demographics.
| AUTHOR, YEAR | LOCATION (REGION, COUNTRY) | STUDY DESIGN | PATIENTS (N) | MEAN AGE (RANGE) | MALE (%) | PRINCIPAL REASON (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abang et al. [10] | Nigeria | Prospective observational | 79 | 36.8 (17–83) | 59.5 | No choice |
| Aderibigbe et al. [17] | Nigeria | Cross‑sectional | 400 | 36.3 | 58 | Family and friend recommendation |
| Ali et al. [7] | Pakistan | Retrospective observational | 87 | 16.48 (6–81) | 64.4 | Availability |
| Aries et al. [18] | Ghana | Qualitative | 29* | – | 69 | – |
| Card et al. [19] | Tanzania | Cross‑sectional | 13** | – | – | Other |
| Chowdhury et al. [8] | Bangladesh | Prospective observational | 150 | (1–≥51) | – | Affordability |
| Dada et al. [9] | Nigeria | Prospective observational | 121 | 29.49 (6 weeks–72) | 57 | Affordability |
| Diamond et al. [11] | Nigeria | Cross‑sectional | 192 | 35.1 (10 months–76) | 64.6 | Belief |
| Edusei et al. [6] | Ghana | Qualitative | 16 | (16–70) | 43.8 | – |
| Golge et al. [12] | Turkey | Cross‑sectional | 3422 | – | 58.1 | Belief/preference |
| Hamad et al. [20] | Sudan | Cross‑sectional | 389 | – | 53.2 | Belief |
| Hatipoglu and Tatar [1] | Turkey | Qualitative | 20 | (46–80) | 70 | Belief + availability |
| Idris et al. [2] | Sudan | Prospective observational | 276 | 39.3 | 66 | Belief |
| Jibo et al. [13] | Nigeria | Cross‑sectional | 224 | 29 (1–82) | 79.9 | Affordability |
| Khan et al. [21] | Pakistan | Prospective observational | 60 | 25.57 (5–65) | 73.3 | Belief |
| Kuubiere et al. [22] | Ghana | Observational | 80 | (7–70) | 63.7 | Belief |
| Moton et al. [23] | Pakistan | Cross‑sectional | 999 | 32.59 (7–71) | 63.2 | Belief |
| Nwachukwu et al. [5] | Nigeria | Qualitative | 17 | – | – | – |
| Onyemaechi et al. [24] | Nigeria | Cross‑sectional | 120 | 37.4 (0–80) | 70 | Family and friend recommendation |
| Panda and Rout [3] | India | Prospective observational | 146 | 48.6 | 55.5 | Other |
| Ruhinda [25] | Tanzania | Qualitative | 103 | – | 84 | – |
| Safari et al. [14] | Iran | Prospective observational | 61 | 34.04 (11–75) | 72.1 | Affordability |
| Sayeed et al. [26] | Uganda | Qualitative | 168 | – | – | Belief |
| Solagberu [27] | Nigeria | Prospective observational | 295 | 28 (15–78) | 68.1 | Affordability |
| Udosen et al. [4] | Nigeria | Cross‑sectional | 92 | (0–60) | 78 | Affordability |
| Yempabe et al. [28] | Ghana | Cross‑sectional | 64 | – | 62.5 | Affordability |
| Zarrar et al. [29] | Pakistan | Retrospective observational | 362 | 38.6 (7–87) | 61 | Affordability |
| Zehir et al. [30] | Turkey | Cross‑sectional | 162 | 27.5 | 60 | Other |
| Total | – | – | 7394 | 33.4 (SD = 7.7) | 63.5% (SD = 8.6%) |
[i] *N = 46 overall, only 29 had previously visited a TBS practitioner.
[ii] **N = 212 overall, only 13 had previously visited a TBS practitioner.
Table 2
Patient‑reported results by article.
| AUTHOR, YEAR | PRIMARY REASON (%) | SECONDARY REASONS (%) | TERTIARY REASONS (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abang et al. [10] | No choice | Belief | TBS competency |
| Aderibigbe et al. [17] | Family and friend recommendation | Availability | Fear of allopathic medicine |
| Ali et al. [7] | Availability | Family and friend recommendation | Affordability |
| Card [19] | No improvement at allopathic hospital | Family and friend recommendation/no choice | – |
| Chowdhury et al. [8] | Affordability | Belief | Quicker service |
| Dada et al. [9] | Affordability | Family and friend recommendation | Belief in faster healing |
| Diamond et al. [11] | Belief | Affordability | Availability |
| Golge et al. [12] | Belief/preference | Fear of disability | Fear of Plaster of Paris |
| Hamad et al. [20] | Belief | Availability | Family and friend recommendation |
| Hatipoglu and Tatar [1] | Belief/availability | Affordability/negative perspective of allopathic medicine | – |
| Idris et al. [2] | Belief | Less time consuming | Affordability |
| Jibo et al. [13] | Affordability | Avoiding long hospital stay | Belief/family and friend recommendation |
| Khan et al. [21] | Belief | Affordability | Quicker service |
| Kuubiere et al. [22] | Belief | Affordability | Belief in faster healing |
| Moton et al. [23] | Belief | Affordability | Availability |
| Onyemaechi et al. [24] | Family and friend recommendation | Affordability | Belief |
| Panda and Rout [3] | Traditional skill and fame | Affordability | Availability |
| Safari et al. [14] | Affordability | Family and friend recommendation | Belief |
| Sayeed et al. [26] | Belief | Witchcraft | Family and friend recommendation |
| Solagberu [27] | Affordability | Belief in faster healing | Negative perspective of allopathic medicine |
| Udosen et al. [4] | Affordability | Belief in faster healing | Fear of Plaster of Paris/complications |
| Yempabe et al. [28] | Affordability | Belief | Quicker service |
| Zarrar et al. [29] | Affordability | Fear of surgery | Family and friend recommendation |
| Zehir et al. [30] | Avoiding long hospital treatment | Fear of complications | Discomfort in cast |
Table 3
Patient‑reported results by reason.
| REASONS | NUMBER OF ARTICLES AS THE PRIMARY REASON | ARTICLES |
|---|---|---|
| Belief in TBS* | 9 | [1, 2, 11, 20–23, 26] |
| Affordability | 8 | [4, 8, 9, 13, 14, 27, 29] |
| Availability* | 2 | [1, 7] |
| Family and friend recommendation | 2 | [17, 24] |
| No choice | 1 | [10] |
| No improvement at allopathic site | 1 | [19] |
| Preference | 1 | [12] |
| Skill | 1 | [3] |
| Long treatment at medical clinic | 1 | [30] |
[i] *Hatipoglu and Tatar [1] had equal numbers of participants reporting availability and belief in TBS—as a result, they are counted in both categories.