294P - Cross-sectional analysis on cancer-related distress, belief in alternative medicine among cancer patients and attendants visiting a tertiary care center in Northern India

Background

Cancer patients are living longer with early detection and improved treatment. When combined with conventional therapy, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) might help patients manage cancer symptoms and treatment toxicities. Ayurveda, Yoga Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy (AYUSH) are native to India, and widely practiced, yet, their association with cancer-related distress is unknown.

Methods

From March to June 2022, cancer patients attending OPD, IPD, and Daycare services at AIIMS Rishikesh responded to a patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9), along with a locally developed and validated questionnaire about knowledge, attitude, practices (KAP) of CAM. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to ascertain the levels of depression/distress, KAP-related outcomes of CAM among cancer patients.

Results

556 cancer patients with a mean age of 48.59 ± 14.82 years (286 males, 270 females) were included. 393 respondents (70.7%) had never used CAM, while 163 (29.3%) had. 342 (61.5%) participants said they would choose CAM if their condition became untreatable, 129 (23.2%) wouldn't, 85 (15.3%) were not sure. Use of CAM was correlated with cancer stage (C 0.104, p 0.045) (ρ .098, p .020). Individuals with stage 4 cancer were more likely to have used CAM (p .029, OR 1.719, CI 1.059 ± 2.792). Multinomial linear regression showed that metastatic cancer tends to have more severe depression (p .022, OR 3.900, CI 1.218 ± 12.490). The level of education was inversely related to beliefs about CAM's effectiveness in curing cancer (C .185, p .012 & ρ -0.12, p .004) and its safety with fewer adverse reactions than modern medicine (C .197, p .004 & ρ -.124, p .003). Among AYUSH modalities, 212 (38.1%) chose Yoga, 186 (33.5%) Ayurveda, 45 (8.1%), Unani, 19 (3.4%), Siddha, and 173 (31.1%) chose others.

Conclusions

Terminally ill patients used CAM more, advanced-stage cancer patients had higher depression scores. People with lower educational status believe in CAM more.Yoga was the most preferred CAM. CAM can aid in improving cancer therapy tolerance and end-of-life care but specific CAM especially yoga protocols can be developed to help in these situations.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

The authors.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.