Maha Emad Aldin Hamed Abdalla1, Adliah Mhd Ali2, Lysia Loong3. 1. Centre for Quality Management of Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 2. Centre for Quality Management of Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: adliah@ukm.edu.my. 3. Pharmacy Department, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among cancer patients is increasing over the years. Some types of CAM may interact with conventional cancer therapy or may cause serious adverse effects. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of CAM use among cancer patients during cancer therapy and to identify CAM users' characteristics, perception, reasoning, expectation and disclosure of CAM use. METHOD: This cross-sectional study was conducted between July 2017 to October 2017, on 121 cancer patients in oncology and hematology clinics and daycare of a tertiary hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Study data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: The prevalence of CAM use among cancer patients was found to be 61.2 %. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that CAM use was associated with change in outlook on life after development of cancer. The most frequently used types of CAM were vitamins and Islamic medical practices. Majority of patients were guided by family and friends' suggestions towards using CAM. Most patients expected CAM to cure their disease. The percentage of patients who disclosed CAM use to the doctors was slightly higher than those who did not disclose CAM use. CONCLUSION: The use of CAM was found to be remarkably high. Rate of non-disclosure of CAM use was high indicating the need for enhancement of doctor- patient relationship for effective patient's care. Future research is needed with large sample of patients to provide better representation of the population and to help understand patients' beliefs and perception more.
PURPOSE: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among cancerpatients is increasing over the years. Some types of CAM may interact with conventional cancer therapy or may cause serious adverse effects. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of CAM use among cancerpatients during cancer therapy and to identify CAM users' characteristics, perception, reasoning, expectation and disclosure of CAM use. METHOD: This cross-sectional study was conducted between July 2017 to October 2017, on 121 cancerpatients in oncology and hematology clinics and daycare of a tertiary hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Study data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: The prevalence of CAM use among cancerpatients was found to be 61.2 %. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that CAM use was associated with change in outlook on life after development of cancer. The most frequently used types of CAM were vitamins and Islamic medical practices. Majority of patients were guided by family and friends' suggestions towards using CAM. Most patients expected CAM to cure their disease. The percentage of patients who disclosed CAM use to the doctors was slightly higher than those who did not disclose CAM use. CONCLUSION: The use of CAM was found to be remarkably high. Rate of non-disclosure of CAM use was high indicating the need for enhancement of doctor- patient relationship for effective patient's care. Future research is needed with large sample of patients to provide better representation of the population and to help understand patients' beliefs and perception more.
Authors: Karolina Kasprzycka; Marta Kurzawa; Malgorzata Kucharz; Monika Godawska; Marta Oleksa; Marta Stawowy; Katarzyna Slupinska-Borowka; Wiktoria Sznek; Iwona Gisterek; Agnieszka Boratyn-Nowicka; Monika Rucinska; Karolina Osowiecka; Sergiusz Nawrocki Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-01-30 Impact factor: 3.390