Abstract
The use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) among women with gynecologic cancer is becoming increasingly popular. Therefore, it is important to gain insight into the prevalence and factors related to the use of CAM. The aim of this study was to assess the use of CAM in women with gynecologic cancer. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. Data were obtained from 67 gynecological cancer patients at gynecologic oncology clinic of a hospital in Turkey between October 2009 to December 2010 using a questionnaire developed specifically for this study. The instrument included questions on socio-demographic information, disease specifics and complementary and alternative medicine usage. On the basis of women's responses, all participants were divided into 2 groups: CAM users and nonusers. The findings indicated that 61.2% of the women reported the use of 1 or more CAM therapies. There were no significant differences in the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics between CAM users and nonusers (P <0.05). The most frequently used CAM method was herbal therapy (90.2%) and the second was prayer (41.5%). The main sources of information about CAM were informal (friends/ family members). A considerable proportion (56.1%) of CAM users had discussed their CAM use with their physicians or nurses. Turkish women with gynecologic cancer frequently use CAM in addition to standard medical therapy. Nurses/ oncologists caring for women with gynecologic cancer should initiate a dialogue about usage of CAM, discussing the potential adverse effects of CAM and the patient's therapeutic goals.
Highlights
Cancer is a major disease burden worldwide and most people perceive it as a frightening and untreatable disease that implies death
Data were obtained from 67 gynecological cancer patients at gynecologic oncology clinic of a hospital in Turkey between October 2009 to December 2010 using a questionnaire developed for this study
The findings indicated that 61.2% of the women reported the use of 1 or more complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) therapies
Summary
Cancer is a major disease burden worldwide and most people perceive it as a frightening and untreatable disease that implies death. An unknown number of patients with cancer in Turkey are using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) products or practices. There have been fewer studies conducted with patients with gynecologic cancer in Turkey. Studies investigating the prevalence of CAM use in cancer care have reported that between 31% and 84% of gynecologic cancer patients in Turkey (Mazicioğlu et al, 2006; Yıldırım et al, 2006; Akyuz et al, 2007; Kav et al, 2008). A study conducted by Akyüz et al (2007) in Turkey reported that patients with gynecologic cancer used praying, worshipping, therapeutic touch, high-dose vitamin and mineral therapy, herbal therapy, animal organs, aromatherapy, diet regimens, acupuncture, electromagnetic therapy, psychologic therapies, dreaming, massage therapy, relaxation therapies, meditation Patients were asked whether they had ever used or were using any of the following 12 CAM therapies: acupuncture, aromatherapy, herbal medicine, nutritional supplements, Income≥expenditure
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