Use of Alternative Medicine in Cancer Patients in the City of Neiva (Colombia)

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in cancer patients in the city of Neiva (Colombia), and to characterize the CAM practices employed by patients. Materials and Methods: A descriptive study was conducted in which patients from a health center in Neiva were surveyed. Adult patients with any type of cancer, in all clinical stages, and undergoing active treatment were included. A multivariate analysis was conducted to identify associations between the use of CAM and sociodemographic-clinical variables. Results: A total of 526 patients were included, of which 57.2% (301) reported using CAM. The main reason for use was palliative care, although a significant number of patients used CAM for curative purposes. The most commonly used CAM was herbal medicine, with anamu being the most frequently used product. Significant associations were found between CAM use and variables such as sex, age, and occupation. Conclusions: A high proportion of cancer patients undergoing active treatment use CAM. It is necessary to incorporate this information into patient care and develop services to guide these practices.