Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Breast Cancer Women in Jordan

Purpose of the study: This study aimed to determine the use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) and its associated demographic factors among breast cancer patients in Jordan.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Patient demographic and clinical characteristics were collected using a self-administered survey that included practices and CAM therapies used in Jordan.

Findings: Two hundred and fifty-six participants between 18 and 65 years completed the questionnaire. Fifty percent of patients used more than one CAM therapy. The most commonly used CAM therapy was listening to the holy book, followed by herbal treatment, and nutritional therapy. The use of CAM was influenced by income, education, and marital status.

Conclusion: CAM use was found to be higher among well educated, married, and economically stable patients. The high prevalence of spiritual and nutritional CAM practices indicates that patients need psychological support to ease their unpleasant symptoms. Although cancer patients contemplate CAM therapies as important and favorable treatment, some CAM therapies can have a lethal effect on the patient’s health outcomes. The high prevalence of using CAM therapies among breast cancer patients in Jordan oblige the need to boost awareness among health practitioners’ and necessitates the need for patient’s education regarding unsafe and lethal CAM practices. Future studies might investigate the physiological effect of CAM therapies on the patient’s symptoms and health outcomes to report evidence of its effectiveness. More studies should investigate the potential side effects and possible interactions between CAM therapies and conventional treatment.