Patterns of complementary and alternative medicine use among Tunisian cancer patients

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among cancer patients is prevalent worldwide as cancer patient are perpetually seeking for a way to improve their quality of life and to cure their disease. Unfortunately, the majority ignore the danger that can resort when they use CAM currently with conventional therapies. The purpose of this study is to assess prevalence and predictors of CAM use in cancer patients.

Cross-sectional study using a questionnaire administered to cancer patients, who were attending Salah Azaiz institute, Tunis, Tunisia. The study took place from September to December 2018.

In 222 cancer patients, the overall prevalence of CAM use was 40.54%. On univariate analysis, patients who had university education level were less likely to use CAM (p = 0.05). Based on multivariate analysis, CAM users had more likely metastatic tumor (p = 0.047; OR = 1.913).It is reported that the majority of the population used herbal medicine. The most common herbal products consuming by patients, included Ephedra foeminea (51.8%), Annona muricata (12%) and Curcuma longa L. (10.84%).The main source of information was entourage (family, friends, hospital entourage) (74.44%).The majority of CAM users (61.11%) reported to consume CAM currently with conventional therapies.

This survey revealed a high prevalence of CAM use. The most common type of CAM use is herbal products. Some of the used herbal products are known to interact with conventional anticancer medication. This emphasizes the importance of patients disclosure of CAM use to health professionals in order to avoid herb-medications interactions.