Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Hospitalized Cancer Patients—Study from Silesia, Poland

Karolina Kasprzycka, Marta Kurzawa, Malgorzata Kucharz, Monika Godawska, Marta Oleksa, Marta Stawowy, Katarzyna Slupinska-Borowka, Wiktoria Sznek, Iwona Gisterek, Agnieszka Boratyn-Nowicka, Monika Rucinska, Karolina Osowiecka and Sergiusz Nawrocki
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Karolina Kasprzycka: Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy and Affiliated Student Science Club, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, ul. Ceglana 35, 40-514 Katowice, Poland
Marta Kurzawa: Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy and Affiliated Student Science Club, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, ul. Ceglana 35, 40-514 Katowice, Poland
Malgorzata Kucharz: Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy and Affiliated Student Science Club, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, ul. Ceglana 35, 40-514 Katowice, Poland
Monika Godawska: Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy and Affiliated Student Science Club, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, ul. Ceglana 35, 40-514 Katowice, Poland
Marta Oleksa: Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy and Affiliated Student Science Club, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, ul. Ceglana 35, 40-514 Katowice, Poland
Marta Stawowy: Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy and Affiliated Student Science Club, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, ul. Ceglana 35, 40-514 Katowice, Poland
Katarzyna Slupinska-Borowka: Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy and Affiliated Student Science Club, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, ul. Ceglana 35, 40-514 Katowice, Poland
Wiktoria Sznek: Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy and Affiliated Student Science Club, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, ul. Ceglana 35, 40-514 Katowice, Poland
Iwona Gisterek: Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy and Affiliated Student Science Club, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, ul. Ceglana 35, 40-514 Katowice, Poland
Agnieszka Boratyn-Nowicka: Katowice School of Technology, University of Technology in Katowice, ul. Rolna 43, 40-555 Katowice, Poland
Monika Rucinska: Department of Oncology, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-228 Olsztyn, Poland
Karolina Osowiecka: Department of Psychology and Sociology of Health and Public Health, School of Public Health, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 11-041 Olsztyn, Poland
Sergiusz Nawrocki: Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy and Affiliated Student Science Club, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, ul. Ceglana 35, 40-514 Katowice, Poland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 3, 1-14

Abstract: Background: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is common amongst cancer patients. The aim of the study was to investigate the use of CAM, beliefs about CAM and the purpose of using it amongst Polish cancer patients. Methods: The study included 864 cancer patients (median 63 years old), who were individually interviewed. The questionnaire was designed specifically for this study. Results: Amongst 732 patients who declared that they heard about CAM, 342 patients (46.7%) had used CAM; 91% of these patients had used it as a complementary therapy and 9% had used it as an alternative therapy. Patients younger in age, highly educated, professionally active, with longer medical history, and at more advanced cancer stages have, statistically, used CAM more often; 66% of participants could not state what the health effect of CAM is. Patients received information about CAM from the internet, friends, family and other patients. Only 18% of patients discussed using CAM with a doctor. Conclusions: CAM was popular amongst Polish cancer patients, especially in younger, educated and professionally active patients with longer cancer history at advanced stage. Patients used CAM as a complementary therapy for strengthening immune system, improving morphological and biochemical test parameters, reducing the side effects of conventional therapy and improving their well-being.

Keywords: CAM; complementary medicine; alternative medicine; cancer patients (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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