The use of complementary and alternative medicine among women with breast cancer in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to explore the frequency of use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies among women with breast cancer in Saudi Arabia.

Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used with face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire.

Sample: A convenient sample of 85 Saudi women with breast cancer who were undergoing cancer treatment was recruited from the Oncology Department of King Faisal Hospital, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Methods: Using structured questionnaire "Use of Complementary Therapies Survey," consisted of diet and nutritional supplements, stress-reducing therapies, and other traditional treatments.

Result: Participants were predominantly married (76.5%), resided in an urban area (83.5%), unemployed (62%), and about half reported no income (49.4%). The mean age was 48 years. All participants reported using at least three or more CAM therapies (mean = 21.15, SD = 8.85) since their diagnosis. There were significant correlations between other CAM use and time since diagnosis (r_s = -0.33, p < .05). The highest usage of dietary and nutritional supplements occurred with honey, olive oil, antioxidants, Fennel flower seeds, and ginger. The highest stress reducing CAM techniques included reading the Holy Qur'ãn, and praying. For other traditional CAM therapies, positive thinking and relaxation techniques were the most frequent methods reported by women. Other CAM treatments involved ZamZam water and listening to music.

Conclusions: The use of complementary therapies among Saudi women with breast cancer is highly prevalent, with a predominance of interventions of religious background, indicating the strong influence of religion on peoples' lives, especially when people are faced with a life-threatening illness. The results of this study will guide future studies examining the efficacy of CAM on symptom management in Saudi Arabian women with breast cancer and other types of cancer.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Complementary and alternative medicine.