Article
Oncology
Nazi Nejat, Amir Rahbarian, Fatemeh Mehrabi, Fatemeh Rafiei
Summary: This study investigated the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among cancer patients in Iran. The findings showed that 44.3% of the 320 participants were using CAM. Most patients used CAM to improve their physical condition and used it alongside conventional medical treatments. Common CAM treatments included visiting holy places, practicing yoga, engaging in prayer therapy, and using medicinal plants and special diets.
JOURNAL OF CANCER RESEARCH AND CLINICAL ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Benedicte Marie Finger, Annika Triller, Ashley M. Bourke, Gert Jan Lammers, Christian Veauthier, Merve Yildizli, Ulf Kallweit
Summary: This study investigated the frequency and characteristics of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in German narcolepsy patients. 15% of patients were using CAM at the time of the survey, and an additional 18% reported past use. The most commonly used CAM treatments were vitamins/trace elements, homeopathy, and meditation. CAM users were more likely to experience side effects from medication and have low adherence to pharmacological treatment.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Elia Marina Rubio, Joan F. Hilton, Stephen Bent, Ram Parvataneni, Erica Oberman, Naghmeh Salamat Saberi, Shira Varon, Michael Schembri, L. Elaine Waetjen, Vanessa L. Jacoby
Summary: The aim of this study is to examine CAM use among women with symptomatic uterine fibroids in the United States. The study found that CAM use was common among these women, with diet and herbs being the most commonly used modalities for fibroid treatment. Participants with pelvic pressure, lower BMI, and lower health-related quality of life scores were more likely to use CAM for fibroids.
JOURNAL OF WOMENS HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Fei-Yi Zhao, Gerard A. Kennedy, Sonja Cleary, Russell Conduit, Wen-Jing Zhang, Qiang-Qiang Fu, Zhen Zheng
Summary: This systematic review examines nursing students' knowledge, attitude, and practice towards complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The findings show that while students have limited knowledge about CAM, they generally have a positive attitude towards it. Students express interest in further learning and support the integration of CAM into nursing programs. Lack of evidence and sources of information are identified as barriers to the use of CAM.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Mahlagha Dehghan, Zakieh Namjoo, Mahlasadat Jafari, Ghazaleh Kordestani, Nazanin Tabebordbar, Fatemeh Payam, Mohammad Ali Zakeri, Sima Mokhtarabadi
Summary: This study investigated Iranian nurses' knowledge and attitude toward CAMs, as well as their correlation with the quality of patient care. The results showed positive attitudes towards CAM among nurses, but a low level of knowledge. There was no significant correlation between knowledge, attitudes towards CAM, and the quality of patient care.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Alexandra Adamietz, Alexander Boosz, Andreas Mueller, Daniela Hornung, Katharina Trunk, Matthias W. Beckmann, Ralf Dittrich, Carolin C. Hack
Summary: This study found that the majority of women with endometriosis are interested in using CAM methods, but only a minority have detailed knowledge about it. Nevertheless, a majority of the patients had used at least one CAM method to relieve symptoms associated with the disease, with exercise being the most frequently used method.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anja Stoecker, Anja Mehnert-Theuerkauf, Andreas Hinz, Jochen Ernst
Summary: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and methods of CAM use in breast cancer and gynecological cancer patients, compare CAM users vs. non-CAM users regarding their sociodemographic and medical characteristics, and investigate the relationship between CAM use and QoL. The results showed that 46.5% of the patients used some form of CAM, and CAM use was higher in breast cancer patients. CAM users were younger, more educated, and financially better off, but had a lower global health status/QoL.
Article
Oncology
J. Huebner, R. Muecke, O. Micke, F. -J Prott, L. Josfeld, J. Buentzel, J. Buentzel
Summary: This study investigates whether cancer patients' concepts of how and why cancer develops have an influence on their choice of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The results show that many patients use CAM, with supplements, relaxation techniques, and homeopathy being the most commonly used methods. While all lay etiological beliefs are associated with the overall usage of CAM, there is no association between specific etiological concepts and types of CAM used. These findings suggest that patients may have other needs addressed by CAM.
JOURNAL OF CANCER RESEARCH AND CLINICAL ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Vladimira Cavojova, Zuzana Kassaiova, Jakub Srol, Eva Ballova Mikuskova
Summary: This paper examines the predictors of belief in the efficacy of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and its use, including cognitive factors, beliefs, sociodemographic factors, and cancer diagnosis. Pseudoscientific/magical beliefs and external locus of control are the strongest predictors of positive attitudes toward CAM and its higher use, as well as preference for CAM instead of conventional treatment. Cancer diagnosis only predicts higher CAM use, but not more positive attitudes or preference for CAM. Women with cancer have more pseudoscientific beliefs and a higher external locus of control over their health. Women with pseudoscientific/magical beliefs favor CAM treatments independently of the cancer diagnosis.
CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Pietro Lapidari, Nardjes Djehal, Julie Havas, Arnauld Gbenou, Elise Martin, Cecile Charles, Sarah Dauchy, Barbara Pistilli, Claire Cadeau, Aurelie Bertaut, Sibille Everhard, Anne-Laure Martin, Charles Coutant, Paul Cottu, Gwenn Menvielle, Agnes Dumas, Fabrice Andre, Stefan Michiels, Ines Vaz-Luis, Antonio Di Meglio
Summary: One in four patients reported using OCAM, with more severe fatigue consistently associated with its use. Older, better educated, wealthier, more anxious women, and those receiving chemotherapy seemed more prone to use OCAM. Identifying profiles of breast cancer patients who more frequently turn to OCAM may aid in providing targeted information about its benefits and potential risks.
BREAST CANCER RESEARCH AND TREATMENT
(2021)
Article
Integrative & Complementary Medicine
Ayana Watanabe, Satomi Inoue, Aiko Okatsu, Hiromi Eto, Michiko Oguro, Yaeko Kataoka
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of CAM use among healthy pregnant women in Japan and factors associated with CAM use. The results showed that approximately 20% of Japanese pregnant women received CAM as therapy, with traditional Chinese medicine, chiropractic, moxibustion, and acupuncture being the most commonly used therapies. Additionally, almost 90% of respondents used CAM as self-care, with folic acid supplementation, other supplements, herbs, and yoga being frequently used. Factors associated with CAM use as therapy included choosing midwifery birth centers for planned childbirth and pregnancy complications, while factors associated with CAM use for self-care included age, education level, and primiparas. The Internet was the main source of information.
BMC COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE AND THERAPIES
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Sebastiano Mercadante, Giuseppe Bellavia, Alessio Lo Cascio, Marcella Dabbene, Grazia di Silvestre, Alessandra Casuccio
Summary: The study surveyed 283 advanced cancer patients receiving home care and found that only 4.2% of patients were using complementary alternative medicines (CAM). The indications and types of CAM varied among patients, with different costs involved. Further analysis was not performed due to the limited number of patients using CAM.
SUPPORTIVE CARE IN CANCER
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Mahlagha Dehghan, Zahra Isari, Mohammad Hossein Abbaszadeh, Asma Ghonchehpour
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and menopausal symptoms among postmenopausal women. The results showed that women using CAM had higher severity and scores in the somatic-vegetative and urogenital domains of menopausal symptoms compared to non-CAM users.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Integrative & Complementary Medicine
Abdul Rahman Jazieh, Khadega A. Abuelgasim, Husam Ardah, Mohammad Alkaiyat, Omar B. Da'ar
Summary: This study evaluated the trends of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among cancer patients, showing significant changes in CAM use over the decade, reflecting major societal and cultural changes in the beliefs towards cancer treatment.
BMC COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE AND THERAPIES
(2021)
Article
Integrative & Complementary Medicine
Burcu Kucukkaya, Hafsa Kuebra Isik
Summary: This study investigated the attitudes of pregnant women in Turkey towards holistic complementary and alternative medicine, as well as the influencing factors. The results showed that most participants preferred faith, energy healing, massage, diet, meditation/yoga, and herbal therapies to alleviate pregnancy-related symptoms. It was also found that education level, financial status, consulting with nurses, knowledge about traditional and complementary therapies, and personal experience with these therapies were positively associated with their utilization.
BMC COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE AND THERAPIES
(2023)