The use of complementary and alternative medicine among cancer patients in Marrakech during the Covid-19 pandemic

Abstract

Medicinal plants have been used by the Moroccan population from ancient times and they have an important role in traditional healing practices. Patients use CAM for different purposes and due to several factors, such as low economical and financial income and/or cultural and religious believes. However, proof of efficacy and safety of the vast majority of traditional and herbal medicine have not been fully established throughout an evidence-based approach. During the current Covid 19 pandemic, the long-term implementation of national emergency and lockdown measures resulted in difficulties to access the healthcare services, therefore, cancer patients of Hematology and Oncology Hospital of Marrakech showed an increased interest in using traditional herbal medicine. The present study is an attempt to determine the prevalence and the aim of using each method of CAM by cancer patients during the Covid-19 pandemic in Marrakech.