Assessment of Cancer Patients' Attitudes Toward Holistic Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Factors Influencing These Attitudes.

IF 1.9 4区医学 Q3 INTEGRATIVE & COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE

Alternative therapies in health and medicine Pub Date : 2025-07-15

İpek Aycil, Anita Karaca

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Abstract

Background: Cancer patients turn to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to manage the adverse effects of chemotherapy and to maintain physical and mental well-being.

Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the attitudes of cancer patients toward holistic CAM and the factors influencing these attitudes.

Design: This was a descriptive and cross-sectional study.

Setting: The study was conducted at a university hospital in Turkey.

Participants: The study included 147 patients who visited the hematology clinic of a university hospital between July and October 2021.

Primary outcome measure: A patient information form and the Holistic Complementary and Alternative Medicine Questionnaire were used to collect data.

Results: Most patients were male (52.4%), married (72.1%), and had completed primary and secondary education (53.7%). Overall, 48.3% had been diagnosed less than one year previously as having cancer, and 89.8% received chemotherapy. More than half (60.5%) used CAM, and the most frequently used methods were animal products (15.6%) and herbal products (15%). The mean score for the questionnaire scale and the mean scores of the complementary and alternative medicine and holistic health subscales were 32.59 ± 5.50, 24.06 ± 4.87, and 8.53 ± 3.11, respectively. Statistically significant differences were identified between the total score of the scale and gender (P < .01), age (P < .05), and marital status (P < .05).

Conclusions: Cancer patients displayed a positive attitude toward holistic CAM. Female, single, and younger patients were more likely to use CAMs.

Keywords: alternative medicine, cancer, complementary medicine, nurses.

本刊更多论文

癌症患者对整体补充替代医学的态度及影响因素的评估。

背景：癌症患者转向补充和替代医学（CAM）来控制化疗的不良反应，保持身心健康。目的：探讨癌症患者对整体辅助医疗的态度及影响因素。设计：这是一项描述性和横断面研究。环境：该研究在土耳其的一所大学医院进行。参与者：该研究包括147名患者，他们在2021年7月至10月期间访问了一所大学医院的血液学诊所。主要结果测量：使用患者信息表和整体补充和替代医学问卷收集数据。结果：患者以男性（52.4%）、已婚（72.1%）、中小学文化程度（53.7%）为主。总的来说，48.3%的人在不到一年的时间里被诊断出患有癌症，89.8%的人接受了化疗。超过一半（60.5%）的人使用CAM，最常用的方法是动物制品（15.6%）和草药制品（15%）。问卷量表的平均得分为32.59±5.50分，补充替代医学和整体健康量表的平均得分为24.06±4.87分，整体健康量表的平均得分为8.53±3.11分。量表总分与性别（P < 0.01）、年龄（P < 0.05）、婚姻状况（P < 0.05）差异有统计学意义。结论：肿瘤患者对整体CAM持积极态度。女性、单身和年轻患者更有可能使用cam。关键词：替代医学，癌症，补充医学，护士。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Alternative therapies in health and medicine INTEGRATIVE & COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE-

CiteScore

0.90

自引率

0.00%

发文量

219

期刊介绍： Launched in 1995, Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine has a mission to promote the art and science of integrative medicine and a responsibility to improve public health. We strive to maintain the highest standards of ethical medical journalism independent of special interests that is timely, accurate, and a pleasure to read. We publish original, peer-reviewed scientific articles that provide health care providers with continuing education to promote health, prevent illness, and treat disease. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine was the first journal in this field to be indexed in the National Library of Medicine. In 2006, 2007, and 2008, ATHM had the highest impact factor ranking of any independently published peer-reviewed CAM journal in the United States—meaning that its research articles were cited more frequently than any other journal’s in the field. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine does not endorse any particular system or method but promotes the evaluation and appropriate use of all effective therapeutic approaches. Each issue contains a variety of disciplined inquiry methods, from case reports to original scientific research to systematic reviews. The editors encourage the integration of evidence-based emerging therapies with conventional medical practices by licensed health care providers in a way that promotes a comprehensive approach to health care that is focused on wellness, prevention, and healing. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine hopes to inform all licensed health care practitioners about developments in fields other than their own and to foster an ongoing debate about the scientific, clinical, historical, legal, political, and cultural issues that affect all of health care.