The association of complementary alternative medicine use with anxiety, depression and quality of life in Turkish cancer patients

Abstract

A Ai im m o of f t th he e s st tu ud dy y: : The purpose of this study is to investigate the complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) usage and the factors affecting this among cancer patients in the western region of Turkey. 220 adult cancer patients participated in the study and 93 patients (42.3%) were found to use at least one CAM method. M Ma at te er ri ia al l a an nd d m me et th ho od ds s: : Our study was done by face-to-face communication in a university hospital, in Turkey. Oncology patients' primary diseases, sociodemographic characteristics, complementary alternative medicine usage, psychological conditions and quality of life were evaluated with proper psychological scales. Patients using and not using CAM were compared with respect to Beck Depression, State Trait Anxiety and Beck Hopelessness scores. No statistically significant difference was detected between/among the groups in BDI (12.0 ±8.4, 11.9 ±8.7, p = 0.96), BHS (5.5 ±4.9, 4.8 ±4.4, p = 0.27) or STAI (43.7 ±8.0, 44.3 ±8.2, p = 0.64) scores. Patients using and not using CAM were compared with respect to WHOQOL-BREF quality of life scores. There was no statistically significant difference between/among the groups in WHOQOL-BREF sub-group scores (physical, psychological, social relations, environment, standardized by culture (environment), general health). R Re es su ul lt ts s: : Nearly half of the patients (42.3%) in this region were found to be using at least one of the CAM methods. The patients mostly preferred herbal methods, with the leading product being stinging nettle (Urtica dioica). The severity of disease (recurrence and dissemination) and patients' knowledge of the diagnoses were the most important factors affecting the CAM usage. C Co on nc cl lu us si io on ns s: : The usage of CAM by oncology patients and the effects of CAM on the present medication prescribed by oncology practitioners must be remembered when they are admitted to polyclinics. Also it must be known that patients with advanced stage and patients with recurrence are more likely to use complementary alternative medications than early stage patients. Therefore oncology patients must be informed about CAM besides their clinical situations. At least physicians should give answers about the CAM to their patients. K Ke ey y w wo or rd ds s: : complementary/alternative medicine (CAM), depression, anxiety, quality of life, cancer patients. Complementary-alternative medicine (CAM) is a wide healthcare field that includes all the health systems, methods, practices and the concomitant theories and beliefs aside from the politically dominant health system in a certain community or culture within a certain period of time [1]. While CAM is known as a concept against modern medicine until recent years, it is currently considered as a method that supplements modern medicine and is put into use occasionally when modern medicine is inadequate.The motivators of people in using or administering CAM are not well established [2]. Important motivators include deficiencies or irregul...

A systematic review of the traits and cognitions associated with use of and belief in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)

“…Takeda Yamaguchi & Yaegashi (2012) reported higher trait anxiety in CAM users. Tarhan, Alacacioglu, Somali, Sipahi, Zencir, Erten, ... & Yilmaz. (2011) reported lower anxiety in CAM users, however they conflated state and trait anxiety.…”