title: Use of complementary and alternative medicines among Malaysian cancer patients: A descriptive study.
abstract: The use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM; bǔ chōng yǔ tì dài yī xué) has been rapidly increasing among cancer patients. However, this pervasiveness is still largely unexplored among Malaysian cancer patients. The current study aimed to evaluate the patterns of CAM use among cancer patients from a local hospital in Malaysia. In addition, the study focused on the information-seeking behavior and CAM use disclosure to doctors. Of 393 patients, 184 (46.1%) had used CAM for their cancers. CAM usage was significantly associated with gender (p =0.021), level of education (p =0.001), employment status (p= 0.02), and monthly income (p <0.001). Among frequently used CAM were nutritional supplements (n =77, 41.8%), natural products (n =74, 40.2%), and multivitamin (n =62, 33.6%). Friends and family members were the most common source of CAM information (n =139, 75.5%). Seventy-nine (43%) reported to disclose their CAM use to the health care providers. The most common (n =63, 34.2%) reason of nondisclosure was "it is not important to discuss it with oncologist." This study confirmed that CAM use is common among Malaysian cancer patients, thus highlighting a greater need for patient education regarding CAM therapies and their potential interactions with conventional therapies. Although some types of CAM therapies may help patients to cope with emotional distress and improve quality of life, CAM, with no proven efficacy, may pose dangers to patients' health due to interactions with conventional therapies. Doctors and other health care providers including nurses and pharmacists should engage cancer patients in an open nonjudgmental dialog to ascertain CAM use disclosure to their health care providers.
authors: Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Kepala Batas, Penang, Malaysia.
authors: Maryam
authors: M
authors: Farooqui
authors: Discipline of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia.
authors: Mohamed Azmi
authors: MA
authors: Hassali
authors: Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kepala Batas, Penang, Malaysia.
authors: Aishah Knight Abdul
authors: AK
authors: Shatar
authors: Department of Medicine, Allianze University College of Medical Sciences, Kepala Batas, Penang, Malaysia.
authors: Muhammad Aslam
authors: MA
authors: Farooqui
authors: Discipline of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia.
authors: Fahad
authors: F
authors: Saleem
authors: Discipline of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia.
authors: Noman Ul
authors: NU
authors: Haq
authors: Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Kepala Batas, Penang, Malaysia.
authors: Che Noriah
authors: CN
authors: Othman
keywords: Malaysia; alternative medicines; cancer; complementary therapies; disclosure