Assessment of Cancer Patients' Attitudes Toward Holistic Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Factors Influencing These Attitudes.

Background • Cancer patients turn to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to manage the adverse effects of chemotherapy and to maintain physical and mental well-being. Objectives • The study aimed to evaluate the attitudes of cancer patients toward holistic CAM and the factors influencing these attitudes. Design • This was a descriptive and cross-sectional study. Setting • The study was conducted at a university hospital in Turkey. Participants • The study included 147 patients who visited the hematology clinic of a university hospital between July and October 2021. Primary Outcome Measure • A patient information form and the Holistic Complementary and Alternative Medicine Questionnaire were used to collect data. Results • Most patients were male (52.4%), married (72.1%), and had completed primary and secondary education (53.7%). Overall, 48.3% had been diagnosed less than one year previously as having cancer, and 89.8% received chemotherapy. More than half (60.5%) used CAM, and the most frequently used methods were animal products (15.6%) and herbal products (15%). The mean score for the questionnaire scale and the mean scores of the complementary and alternative medicine and holistic health subscales were 32.59 ± 5.50, 24.06 ± 4.87, and 8.53 ± 3.11, respectively. Statistically significant differences were identified between the total score of the scale and gender (P < .01), age (P < .05), and marital status (P < .05). Conclusions • Cancer patients displayed a positive attitude toward holistic CAM. Female, single, and younger patients were more likely to use CAMs. (Altern Ther Health Med. 2026;32(2):6-11). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]