ArticleBMC complementary and alternative medicine2018
The use of complementary and alternative medicine by patients with cancer: a cross-sectional survey in Saudi Arabia.
Article in BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 46 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
46 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 97 citations in OpenAlex.
- Perception of integrating complementary and alternative medicine practice in patient's treatment among the healthcare practitioners: a systematic review.The Pan African medical journal · 2022Pooled it
- Efficacy of the complementary therapies in the management of cancer pain in palliative care: A systematic review.Revista latino-americana de enfermagem · 2020Pooled it
- Mapping the scholarly landscape of Saudi Arabia-related folk medicine: a bibliometric study.The Libyan journal of medicine · 2026Article
- Dietary and non-dietary complementary and alternative medicine use in Saudi Arabia: the differential role of associated factors.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2026Article
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Oncology: A Concise Review of Utilization, Evidence, and Integration Challenges.Cancer reports (Hoboken, N.J.) · 2026Review
- Article
- Complementary and Alternative Therapy Use Among Cancer Patients in Qassim: Patterns, Predictors, and Patient Perspectives.Cancer management and research · 2026Article
- Complementary and alternative medicine use among elderly cancer patients: a cross-sectional study in South Korea.Frontiers in oncology · 2026Article
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Use among Elderly Cancer Patients: A cross-sectional study in South Korea.Research square · 2025Article
- Trends and patterns of complementary and alternative medicine use among cancer patients in Jordan: a decade comparison.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2025Article
- Camel milk is a neglected source of brucellosis among rural Arab communities.Nature communications · 2025Article
- Prevalence, patterns, drivers, and perceived benefits of herbal medicine use in COVID-19 patients in Qatar.Journal of pharmaceutical policy and practice · 2025Article
- Who is Seeking Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for Cancer? Insights from a Large Cohort in a Rehabilitation Clinic.Patient preference and adherence · 2025Article
- Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Among Patients With Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study.Cureus · 2024Article
- Microbial and heavy metal contamination in herbal medicine: a prospective study in the central region of Saudi Arabia.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2024Article
- Article
- Cancer patients' behaviors and attitudes toward natural health products.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2023Article
- Article
- The prevalence and pattern of complementary and alternative medicine use among cancer patients in a tertiary oncology center: a cross-sectional study.Annals of medicine and surgery (2012) · 2023Article
- Complementary and alternative medicine in oncology: knowledge, attitude and practice among Tunisian healthcare workers.Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundA significant proportion of cancer patients use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) along with conventional therapies (CT), whereas a smaller proportion delay or defer CT in favor of CAM. Previous studies exploring CAM use among cancer patients in the Middle East region have shown discrepant results. This study investigates the prevalence and pattern of CAM use by Saudi cancer patients. It also discusses the possible benefits and harm related to CAM use by cancer patients, and it explores the beliefs patients hold and their transparency with health care providers regarding their CAM use.
methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in oncology wards and outpatient clinics by using face-to-face interviews with the participants.
resultsA total of 156 patients with a median age of 50 years (18-84) participated in the study. The prevalence of CAM use was 69.9%; the most prominent types of CAM were those of a religious nature, such as supplication (95.4%), Quran recitation (88.1%), consuming Zamzam water (84.4%), and water upon which the Quran has been read (63.3%). Drinking camel milk was reported by 24.1% of CAM users, whereas camel urine was consumed by 15.7%. A variety of reasons were given for CAM use: 75% reported that they were using CAM to treat cancer, enhance mood (18.3%),control pain (11.9%), enhance the immune system (11%),increase physical fitness (6.4%), and improve appetite (4.6%). Thirty percent of CAM users had discussed the issue with their doctors; only 7.7% had done so with their nurses.
conclusionsThe use of CAM, including camel products, is highly prevalent among cancer patients in the Middle East, but these patients do not necessarily divulge their CAM use to their treating physicians and nurses. Although CAM use can be beneficial, some can be very harmful, especially for cancer patients. Association is known between camel products and brucellosis and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Both can lead to tremendous morbidity in immune-compromised patients. Doctor-patient communication regarding CAM use is of paramount importance in cancer care.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.