Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Use among Elderly Cancer Patients: A cross-sectional study in South...

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is common among elderly cancer patients, but evidence on its prevalence, characteristics, and determinants in Korea is limited. This study aimed to examined prevalence, patterns, reasons, and associated factors of CAM use among elderly cancer survivors.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 420 cancer patients aged ≥ 65 years attending outpatient clinics of the Veterans Hospital System, a 1,000-bed secondary hospital in Seoul, Korea. Data on CAM utilization, modalities, reasons for use, and information sources were collected through structured questionnaires. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify demographic and clinical factors associated with CAM use.

Among participants, 60.0% reported CAM use. The most common modalities were exercise (fast walking, 49.4%) and dietary interventions (42.9%). The primary reason was immune enhancement (61.6%), and family members or relatives were the main information source (42.1%). Multivariate analysis revealed that being married (OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.40-4.45), having prostate cancer (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.36-3.35), and undergoing surgery (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.07-2.45) were significantly associated with CAM use..

CAM use is highly prevalent among elderly Korean cancer patients, particularly in married men, prostate cancer patients, and those who have undergone surgery. Oncologists should incorporate CAM-related discussions into survivorship care, and further studies are warranted to assess the impact of CAM modalities on quality of life and clinical outcomes.