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E-ISSN: 3061-9947
Investigation of Clinical Features and the Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicines in Cancer Patients, A Single-Center Experience.
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Original Article
VOLUME: 52 ISSUE: 3
P: 455-462
2019

Investigation of Clinical Features and the Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicines in Cancer Patients, A Single-Center Experience.

Acta Haematol Oncol Turc 2019;52(3):455-462
DOI: 10.5505/aot.2019.85579
Tülay Eren 1
Gökşen İnanç İmamoğlu 1
Cengiz Karaçin 1
Esra Zeynelgil 1
Hayriye Şahinli 1
Ebru Cilbir 1
Doğan Yazılıtaş 1
Özlem Aydın İsak 1
Sema Turker 1
Perihan Perkin 1
Fevzi Coşkun Sökmen 2
Mustafa Altınbaş 1
1. Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Reaearch and Education Hospital, Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara
2. Abdurrrahman Yurtaslan Oncology Research and Education Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, Ankara
3.
No information available.
No information available
Received Date: 2019-11-10T13:30:11
Accepted Date: 2019-12-27T14:30:01
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Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Despite recent advancements in modern medicine and in cancer treatment, the interest towards complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) still remains. The aim of our study was to detect rates of CAM use, its kinds and the factor(s) affecting CAM preference in patients receiving chemotherapy

METHODS

A questionnaire consisting of 26 questions on demographics, clinical features, and CAM use was conducted on volunteering patients receiving chemotherapy in the outpatient chemotherapy unit of Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Training and Research Hospital from July 1 to August 1, 2017. Consent was received from the patients prior to the application of the questionnaire.

RESULTS

Ninety-seven volunteering patients replied the questionnaire. Median age was 60 years (26-84). Sixty-six percent of the patients were females. Most patients were primary/junior high school graduates (61.5%) and belonged to the low-income group (71.1%). Most commonly observed cancer type was breast cancer (39.2%). Stage 4 patients made up of 51.5% of the patients. Majority of the patients received palliative treatment (52.6%). CAM use was found 21.6%. Most commonly preferred CAM kinds were stinger (9.2%), turmeric (4.1%) and common ginger (2.1%). The physicians were not aware of the products used in 57.2% of the patients. 80.9% of the patients were using these products for the belief that they would be beneficial in the recovery period of the disease. 28.5% of the patients using CAM thought that these products served a clinical benefit. A statistically significant relation was determined between low income and use of complementary medicine (p: 0,01).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Nowadays, complementary medicine is frequently used by cancer patients. It is of vital importance that healthcare workers pay heed to CAM use and be in contact with the patients so as to prevent toxicities