Usage of complementary and alternative treatment methods in cancer patients

Purpose:In recent years, countries all over the world and in our country complementary and alternative therapies (CAM) methods are becoming increasingly popular. Most of these methods are unproven efficacy but are especially preferred by cancer patients.The aim of our study was; to uncover the frequency and methods of complementary and alternative medicine at cancer patients in our region and so to uncover , demographic and medical characteristics ofand identify patients using these applications to the referring reason to investigateMaterial and methods:This study was made between October 2009 and March 2010 at Dicle University Medical Faculty Department of Medical Oncology, inpatients and outpatients who were treated included to the study. The data from the files of patients were followed and the evaluation was obtained from the questionnaire. The data from the files of patients were followed and the evaluation was obtained from the questionnaire prepared. The questionnaires of patients included the frequency of CAM using, the most frequently method, to lead the reason for using patients this method besides these questionnaire also included CAM using may be releated with the socio-demographic caharacterics, medical characteristics were put forward.The questionnaire to the patients face to face interviews were made lasting approximately 15 minutes, the data obtained were applied to computers SPSS 11.5 (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) program was evaluated. Chi-square test was used for comparison results for % 95 confidence was set at p < 0.05 significance limit.Results:173 female and 151 male in the total 324 patients were included to the study. % 62 patients were using at least one CAM method. The most frequently method was herbal ,% 51.2 of all patients and % 82.5 of CAM patients were taken at least one herbal species.% 40.9 of patients were taken herbals mixtures and % 39.8 of them were using single herbal as nettle (Urtica dioica) or seeds, % 19.3 were using other herbals.CAM use is associated with factors such as age, educational status, at diagnosis metastatic cancer, paliative therapy or need to be taken, diagnosing time was longer than 1 year and taken chemotherapy (p < 0.05).Patients gender, marital status, health insurance, the areas rural or city to have, occupation, economic status, hospital transportation to how to provide, the diagnosis (or the cancer area), in the vicinity of cancer patients have radiotherapy have been receiving from cancer surgery has been CAM use is was no statistically significant (p> 0.05). % 47.2 (n:95) of patients who were taken CAM were diagnosed cancer without any complaint so they admitted to this method. % 50.4 (n:101) of these patients CAM methods as the guidance of their firends and relatives. % 30.8 of all patients and % 49.7 (n:95) CAM users, had used herbal methods have been used in combination with chemotherapy. % 49.7 patients of CAM therapies while spending less money than 100 TL a month, and % 38.3 and those have not spent any money earned by their own means.Conclusion:CAM use among cancer patients is quite common. The most commonly preferred methods, especially herbal ones, and a significant portion of these patients are used in combination with chemotherapy. Doctors seeking alternative treatment in these patients should be aware of and try to understand the causes of these trends is needed. Thus the use of herbal medicine in patients with chemotherapy drugs for commercial purposes would create a potential for toxicity and patient abuse can be prevented.Key words: Complementary and alternative medicine, cancer, herbal treatment