Complementary and alternative medicine (cam) use among cancer patients in selected tertiary health facilities in southwestern nigeria.

Abstract

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is a comprehensive term used to refer to Traditional Medicine (TM) systems such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and to various forms of indigenous medicine. A survey was carried out to ascertain the prevalence of the use of CAM among cancer patients attending tertiary hospitals in Southwestern Nigeria. After obtaining permission from Research Ethics Committee and consent from participants, questionnaires were distributed to one hundred and twenty (120) cancer patients attending cancer treatment facilities. The result showed that out of the 64% of the cancer patients presently on CAM, 39% expected cure from the use of CAM while 3% hoped that use of CAM will lead to suppression of growth of the cancer cells followed this trend: 55% of the patients regularly consumed vegetables, 51% were on daily course of vitamins and other supplements, 38% performed regular exercises, while 20% relied on prayers. Fifteen percent of the patients consulted social workers, 12% used music therapy and 7% used local herbs. The study further revealed that consumption of vegetables, vitamins/ supplements and regular exercise was the most common CAM used by the cancer patients. The uses of vitamins/ supplements, vegetable and exercise have formed a mainstay of prescription in the management of cancer in Nigerian hospitals.