Factors associated with utilization of nonproven cancer therapies in Turkey - A study of 135 patients from a single center

In their search for a cure, a significant number of cancer patients use non proven treatment (NPT) methods. However, little is known about patient and disease characteristics associated with the use of these methods. In this t rial, we evaluated the prevalence of and the factors associated with the us age of nonproven cancer remedies in a teaching hospital in Turkey. A self-a dministered questionnaire was given to 135 cancer patients attending the ou tpatient clinics of a medical oncology department. Patients' demographic da ta, their usage of non-proven methods, and possible contributing factors we re explored. Our cohort mainly comprised poor patients with only primary sc hool education. Overall, 50% of our patients had used or were using NPT met hods. Medicinal herbs (mainly stinging nettle) were the most frequently use d remedy. In contrast, such "complementary therapies" as exercise, relaxati on, and meditation were not employed. In multivariate analysis, only durati on of disease was found to be significantly associated with NPT utilization [P=0.05, relative risk (RR)=1.94]. In addition, patient education level wa s marginally significant (P=0.07, RR=0.36). Apart from long, duration of di sease and being better educated, no other clinical, social, economic and cu ltural factors evaluated were associated with the use of NPT in our group o f Turkish patients. Since these treatments are sometimes costly and have qu estionable efficacy and toxicity, proper scientific trials are needed to cl arify whether such methods have a real role in cancer management.