Psychosomatic Symptoms in Terminally Ill Cancer Patients and Its Relation With Using Complementary and Alternative Medicines: A Cross-Sectional Study in Southeast Iran

Abstract

BackgroundCancer patients face various problems and complications, which they address through various complementary and alternative medicines (CAM). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between CAM and psychosomatic symptoms in terminally ill cancer patients.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was performed on 221 terminally ill cancer patients (based on metastatic stage and according to the physicin diagnosis) in southeastern Iran. Convenience sampling was used to select terminally ill cancer patients. Using questionnaires like the demographic and clinical information questionnaire, Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), CAM questionnaire and satisfaction with the use of CAM, the researcher was able to compile a comprehensive picture of the population.ResultsThe mean age of the participants was 51.66 ± 13.34 years. The majority of the samples were female, married, educated, and unemployed. The mean score for the physical symptoms of the participants according to ESAS was 22.25 ± 17.57 which was less than the midpoint of the scale (the possible score of ESAS was 0–100). Only 2.7% (n = 6) and 0.9% (n = 2) of the participants had mild and moderate anxiety, respectively, and the other participants' anxiety levels were normal. Only 7.7% (n = 17) and 4.1% (n = 9) of the participants had mild and moderate depression, respectively, and the other participants' depression levels were normal. Last year, 87.3% of the participants used at least one type of CAM. Aside from prayer, 42.1% of the participants used at least one type of CAM in the last year. Prayer was used by 83.7% of the participants, medicinal plants by 35.8%, massage by 9.5%, dietary supplements by 3.6%, wet cupping by 3.2%, relaxation and meditation by 2.7%, dry cupping by 2.4%, and acupuncture by 0.5%. The common reason for using CAM was to reduce the stress and anxiety caused by cancer and to treat it. There were no significant differences in physical and psychological symptoms between the CAM-users and non-CAM users.ConclusionPatients with cancer have a relatively low level of psychosomatic symptoms, and the primary reason for using CAM was to relieve stress and anxiety associated with cancer and treat it. However, psychosomatic symptoms were the same for CAM and non-CAM users. Because so many people with cancer use CAM, future studies should look into why and how CAM is used.

Quality of Life and Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicines among Narcotics Anonymous Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study in Southeast Iran

“…In addition, the most common types of CAMs used by hemodialysis patients were prayer and herbal medicines [ 19 ]. Most of the terminally ill cancer patients used prayer (83.7%) and herbal medicines (35.8%) [ 40 , 41 ], which is consistent with the use of herbal medicines in the present study.…”

“…The present study showed no significant difference in overall quality of life between CAM and non-CAM users. In addition, Dehghan et al showed no difference in physical and psychological symptoms between CAM and non-CAM users with cancer [ 40 ]. However, Dehghan et al showed that hemodialysis patients, who used some types of CAM, including relaxation and meditation techniques, had a higher quality of life than those who did not use CAM [ 19 ].…”

Quality of life in terminally ill cancer patients: what is the role of using complementary and alternative medicines?

“…According to Dehghan et al (2022), last year, 87.3% of the participants used at least one type of CAM. Aside from prayer, 42.1% of the participants used at least one type of CAM in the last year, and the primary reason for using CAM was to relieve stress and anxiety associated with cancer and treat it [ 24 ].…”

Complementary and alternative medicine use among cancer patients in Iran: A systematic review

“…On the other hand, Nejat et al's study reported an average of 11.47 ± 4.02 months ( Nejat et al, 2022 ). Two studies considered the time of CAM use since diagnosis or during treatment ( Asadi Sarvestani et al, 2022 , Bazrafshani et al, 2019 ).In addition, four studies were considered this time during one year ( Farahani et al, 2019 , Dehghan et al, 2019 , Dehghan et al, 2022 , Dehghan et al, 2022 ), and two studies during six months leading to the completion of the questionnaires ( Sajadian et al, 2005 , Sajadian et al, 2009 ). Finally, three of the articles considered the use of CAM lifelong ( Montazeri et al, 2005 , Montazeri et al, 2007 , Amirmoezi et al, 2017 ).…”