Complementary and alternative medicines used by cancer patients to cope with chemotherapy-induced constipation

The aim of this study was to evaluate complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) used by cancer patients to cope with chemotherapy-induced constipation, and attitudes of the patients toward CAM.

This descriptive study was conducted in an adult oncology unit of a university hospital with 214 cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Data were collected with the Patient Identification Form and Holistic Complementary and Alternative Medicine Questionnaire (HCAMQ).

Of the participants, 21.5% had information about CAM, the main source of information was the internet and social media (54.8%), and 31.8% used CAM in coping with chemotherapy-induced constipation. The most common method was phytotherapy (97.1%). The most commonly used herb was apricot (39.4%); the HCAMQ mean score was 34.3 (±4.6).

Cancer patients frequently use CAM to cope with chemotherapy-induced constipation and the most common CAM used by patients is phytotherapy.