Study of complementary and alternative medicine usage of cancer patients receiving medical oncology clinic medicine and its relationship with their quality of life
Elif Temucin, Tulay Ortabag
Abstract
Background: This study has been implemented with the aim of examining the situation and the quality of life of cancer patients receiving treatment at an oncology clinic and using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Methods: Research has been carried out with 85 colorectal and lung cancer patients and was conducted from March 23 to May 1, 2011. The “Introductory Information Form,” “Question Form for the Status of Using CAM,” and “Rotterdam Symptom Checklist” have been used as data collection tools. Results: It has been found in this study that the rate of cancer patients using CAM was 51.8%. The most popular CAM method was herbal cures. In our research, we found that CAM was used in the young age groups with a high level of education, in patients in the third phase of the disease, and in the women. It has also been found that patients were informed by their close environment, and they were reluctant to disclose the CAM method they use to a health-care professional. Most of the patients using CAM intended to increase their body strength. When cancer patients quality of life using or not using CAM was assessed it was not statistically different in terms of physical, psychological, and daily life activities. Conclusion: It is of the utmost important for the nurses providing primary care for the cancer patients in the implementation of conventional treatment, to be able to make assessments about the usage of CAM by patients and provide appropriate advice.