Complementary and Integrative Approaches to Cancer: A Pilot Survey of Attitudes and Habits among Cancer Patients in Italy

Massimo Bonucci; Andrea Geraci; Dina Pero; Cristina Villivà; Daniele Cordella; Maria Condello; Stefania Meschini; Laura Del Campo; Franco Tomassi; Alessandro Porcu; Francesco De Lorenzo; Francesco Lozupone

doi:10.1155/2022/2923967

Complementary and Integrative Approaches to Cancer: A Pilot Survey of Attitudes and Habits among Cancer Patients in Italy

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2022 Aug 1:2022:2923967. doi: 10.1155/2022/2923967. eCollection 2022.

Affiliations

¹ Association for Research on Integrative Oncological Therapies (ARTOI), Roma, Italy.
² Italian Center for Global Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy.
³ Italian Association for Cancer Patients, Relatives and Friends (AIMaC), Roma, Italy.
⁴ Directorate-General Information Technology Unit, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy.
⁵ National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy.

Abstract

Background: Cancer patients are among the main consumers of traditional, complementary, integrative, and alternative medicine (TCIM) such as natural products (herbals, integrators, etc.) and mind and body practices (yoga, acupuncture, etc.).

Methods: A questionnaire on TCIM was submitted to 415 Italian cancer patients. The questionnaire consisted of three sections: (i) biographical and clinical information; (ii) use of natural substances; and (iii) use of mind-body practices.

Results: 406 patients completed the questionnaire. The prevalence of TCIM use was 72.3%. Of them, 75.6% started to use TCIM after a tumor diagnosis. The main reasons for using TCIM were to mitigate side effects (65.0%), to regain physical and mental balance (35.9%), to relieve pain (18.3%), and to improve the efficacy of cancer therapy (16.0%). 44.7% of patients taking natural products used them during conventional therapies (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, etc.), and in 67.5% of cases without consulting a doctor. As a consequence, only about 50% of patients taking natural substances used these compounds appropriately, and the most common errors were related with the purpose of reducing the side effects of the therapy (52.3%) and for boosting immune system (32.1%).

Conclusions: There is an impelling need to provide patients with scientifically validated information to raise awareness about the benefits and risks of using TCIM.