The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Coping with Stress by Patients with Gynecological Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study in Türkiye

Abstract

Introduction: Gynecological cancers are long-term, challenging, and stressful diseases. In Türkiye, the majority of patients with gynecological cancer use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Considering the stress that gynecological cancer patients are exposed to, patients need to know how to cope with stress. Objective: This study aimed to determine the use of CAM and coping with stress by patients with gynecological cancer and the relationships between them and the factors that predict the approaches to coping with stress in women with gynecological cancer in Türkiye. Methods: This is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. The study was conducted with 204 patients between April and August 2022. The data of the study were collected by face-to-face interview and filled out by the patients using the Descriptive Information Form and the Stress Coping Styles Scale (SCSS). Number, percentage, mean, χ², one-way ANOVA, t test, and the Spearman correlation analysis were used in the data analysis. To analyze the multivariate independent associations between variables, a multivariate ordinal logistic regression model was used, with the SCSS domains as dependent variables. A 95% confidence interval was calculated, and all statistical tests had an alpha level of 0.05. Results: The mean age of the patients was 58.38 ± 12.64 years (32–80). The prevalence of CAM use by patients was 39.2%, and the most common types of CAM were herbal products (43.8%) and supplication (42.5%). The reasons for using CAM were relaxation (symptomatic)-feeling healthy (63.8%) and treating cancer (36.2%). No statistically significant difference was found between the use of CAM and their approaches to coping with stress (p > 0.05). As a result of multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis, education level under high school, having ovary, cervix, and endometrium cancer, being in the first stage of cancer, receiving chemotherapy, receiving surgical treatment, having another cancer patient in the social environment and increased interest in a partner after the diagnosis of cancer was associated with an effective coping with stress (p < 0.05, adjusted R² = 0.27, 0.79, and 0.32, respectively). Not working, experiencing an abortion, having another cancer patient in their social environment, being in the third stage of cancer, having an extended family, and living in a rural area of residence were associated with ineffective coping with stress (p < 0.05, adjusted R² = 0.20 and 0.24, respectively). Conclusions: The prevalence of CAM use by patients was low. While determining the approaches of the patients to cope with stress, their education level, place of residence, family type, diagnosis of cancer, stage of cancer, treatment, partner support, and stressful life events should be considered. As nurses, we need to be more knowledgeable about the use of CAM to provide correct guidance to our patients for access to accurate and effective information. We need to determine our patients’ stressors and how our patients cope with stress.