Complementary and alternative medicine. Use and challenges among gynaecological cancer patients in Nigeria: experiences in a tertiary health institution - preliminary results

Background: Cancer patients have keyed into increasing global interest in the use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). There are few studies on CAM use among gynaecological cancer patients in our environment. Objective: To determine the prevalence, pattern and challenges of use of CAM among gynaecological cancer patients in UNTH Enugu, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive cross sectional study of gynaecological cancer patients seen in a referral tertiary centre in Nigeria. Data was extracted using semi-structured questionnaires and analysed with software for SPSS version 17 using descriptive and inferential statistic. A p value ≤ 0.05 was deemed statistically significant. Result: The mean age of 95 patients studied was 50.9 ± 11 years with CAM use prevalence of 64.3%. The majority (73.8%) used herbal medicine and in 60.7% recommendation was by friends and relatives. Cancer of the cervix was commonest (44.2%) followed by ovarian (32.6%). Most (75%) CAM users reported delayed presentation to hospitals. Longer duration of illness and monthly income less than expenditure were significant factors among CAM users (p = 0.00002 and p = 0.02 respectively). Those that had recommendation of CAM by friends and relatives significantly experienced delayed presentation (p = 0.0017). Conclusion: CAM use was common among gynaecological cancer patients with herbs bring predominantly used in this environment. Respondents whose monthly income was less than their expenses and those whose duration of illness were longer at the point of diagnosis were significantly common users of CAM. CAM use was likely to be abused, hence physicians should inquire into CAM use and offer insights, potential benefits, and adversities of CAM to their patients.

Complementary and alternative medicine; Gynaecological cancer

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