Predictors of high phytotherapy usage among women with cancer: the impact of cancer duration, symptoms, and psychosocial factors

Abstract

Objective: Gynecological and Breast Cancers (GCBC) are extremely common worldwide, including in Morocco. Patients suffering from these forms of cancer often turn to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), particularly phytotherapy. However, there has been no research on Moroccan patients using this medicine. We aim to assess the frequency and factors involved in the use of phytotherapy. Methods: This was a cross-sectional analytical study. We interviewed 317 patients in an oncology unit. We calculated the 12-month prevalence of herbal medicine use and identified predictors of herbal medicine use by multivariate analysis using SPSS software. Results: The prevalence of patients using phytotherapy was 40.7%. Patients used 48 plant species. The most commonly used plants were Marrubium vulgare L., Allium cepa L. and Retama monosperma (L.) Boiss. This use was associated with a cancer duration greater than one year (p < 0.05; OR = 0.414), pain (p < 0.01; OR = 2.711), anorexia (p < 0.05; OR = 2.079), the social impact of the disease (p < 0.01; OR = 4.140), the expected benefits of C&CM (p < 0.000; OR = 3.453), and the social norms of relatives (p < 0.000; OR = 3.502). Conclusion: The use of herbal medicine as CAM among women with is highly prevalent. The user profile identified in this study deviates from the patterns observed in the international literature. Further research is warranted in different regions of Morocco, exploring various CAM modalities, and employing alternative methodological approaches. The use of herbal medicine as CAM in women with GCBC is widespread. The profile of users identified in this study deviates from patterns observed in the international literature. Further research is warranted in different regions of Morocco, exploring different CAM modalities and using other methodological approaches.