ArticleCancer management and research2026
Complementary and Alternative Therapy Use Among Cancer Patients in Qassim: Patterns, Predictors, and Patient Perspectives.
Article in Cancer management and research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Purpose: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widely used by cancer patients, yet regional data from Qassim, Saudi Arabia, are lacking. This study assessed the prevalence, patterns, motivations, and predictors of CAM use among cancer patients in the region. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at Prince Faisal Cancer Center, Qassim, between February and August 2025. Eligible adults with confirmed cancer completed a culturally adapted version of the International CAM Questionnaire. CAM modalities were classified using the NCCIH/SIO framework. Descriptive statistics summarized prevalence, types, motivations, disclosure, benefits, harms, and costs. Predictors were assessed using chi-square tests and logistic regression. Results: Among 258 participants (mean age 51.6 ± 15.1 years; 57.4% female), 145 (56.2%) reported CAM use. Most described CAM as complementary (91.0%), with 6.2% as alternative, and 2.8% as integrative. Common modalities included spiritual/faith-based (91.0%; Qur'an recitation, 74.3%; Zamzam water, 72.2%), biologically based (66.7%; olive oil, 41.7%; honey, 34.7%), and traditional remedies (53.5%; camel milk, 22.2%; camel urine, 13.9%). The main motivation was belief in a cure (91.0%). Perceived benefits were reported by 58.6% (most often improved mood, 33.8%); adverse effects were rare (6.9%) and mild. Only 23.4% disclosed CAM use to physicians, and 7.6% delayed conventional therapy. Female sex (aOR 2.29, 95% CI 1.04-5.01) and higher education (aOR 2.48, 95% CI 1.12-5.18) independently predicted CAM use. Conclusion: CAM use was highly prevalent among cancer patients in Qassim, with faith-based and traditional practices most common. Curative expectations were widespread, but disclosure to physicians was low, creating a critical communication gap. Addressing this gap requires proactive, culturally sensitive physician-patient dialogue and integration of safe, evidence-based supportive practices into cancer care.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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.