OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the frequency of complementary and alternative therapy (CAM) usage and CAM related applications in patients with breast cancer at Afyon Kocatepe University.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our study included a total of 70 patients with breast cancer who applied to the Afyon Kocatepe University Medical Faculty Hospital, Medical Oncology and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation outpatient clinics. A 44-question form including questionnaires on the sociodemographic characteristics of the patients and the CAM methods used were filled out.
RESULTS: Patients with a mean age of 57.5 ± 11.2 years were assigned at least one CAM method as 85.7% (60 people). It was determined that; praying (85.7%) and plants (30%) were as the most preferred CAM method. While 55% of breast cancer patients using the CAM method decided to use oneself, 13.3% of them started to use CAM due to the influence of their family. In our study, only 35% of the patients using CAM were informed about this issue by their doctor. While 32.9% of patients using CAM indicated that they were very beneficial, 44.3% of the patients stated that they applied to these methods immediately after the diagnosis was started.
CONCLUSIONS: It has been determined that our patients use CAM methods frequently, mostly they prefer prayer and herbal methods. In addition, breast cancer patients do not inform health workers about the use of CAM, especially the majority of those continuing with chemotherapy, radiotherapy / hormone therapy were using CAM together. As a result; we also think that health professionals can also interrogate patients in terms of using CAM so that they can also help prevent side effects from using these methods.
Birincil Dil | Türkçe |
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Konular | Sağlık Kurumları Yönetimi |
Bölüm | Makaleler-Araştırma Yazıları |
Yazarlar | |
Yayımlanma Tarihi | 26 Nisan 2018 |
Kabul Tarihi | 26 Şubat 2018 |
Yayımlandığı Sayı | Yıl 2018 Cilt: 19 Sayı: 2 |