Abstract
Purpose
Moroccan studies have shown a high frequency of use of traditional and complementary medicines (T&CM). No survey has investigated the predictive factors of the use of traditional herbal medicine. This study aims to assess the prevalence, the determinants, and the predictors of this use.
Methods
At the regional oncology center of Beni Mellal, we conducted a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study with 530 adult cancer patients chosen by quota sampling. A 54-item questionnaire was used to perform the face-to-face survey. The Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) healthcare model was used to create this instrument.
Results
The prevalence of traditional herbal medicine use was 36.6%. Several variables of the conceptual model were associated with the use of herbal medicine (gender, attitude, and belief towards T&CM, financial resources, and clinical characteristics of patients) (p < 0.05). Predictors of traditional herbal medicine use were female gender (OR = 4.687; p < 0.000), social impact of cancer (OR = 2.314; p < 0.05), emotional impact of cancer (OR = 2.314; p < 0. 05), expected benefits of T&CM use (OR = 3.453; p < 0.000), perceived scientific barriers (OR = 0.580; p < 0.000), perceived socioeconomic barriers (OR = 0.657; p < 0.005), and social norms of relatives (OR = 3.238; p < 0.000).
Conclusion
The use of herbal medicine is quite frequent. The profile of users is represented by women who experience pain and the psychosocial impact of cancer and who have positive beliefs about TCMs, are influenced by their relatives and who did not perceive the barriers of this use.
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The datasets generated during and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
We thank the regional director of health, the provincial delegate of health, and the director of the center of oncology for their trust, our sincere thanks also go to all the technical and administrative staff of the regional oncology center for their warm welcome and their help in carrying out this work, and we also wish to thank the patients for their collaboration.
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The authors declare that no funds, grants, or other support were received during the preparation of this manuscript.
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AM: conceptualization, investigation, writing, software, and formal analysis; SK: reviewing, editing, and validation; ON: conceptualization, methodology, writing, supervision, and preparation; NR; LA: investigation and clinical judgment.
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Aboufaras, M., Selmaoui, K., Najib, R. et al. Predictors of herbal medicine use among cancer patients. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 149, 4991–5005 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-022-04451-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-022-04451-x