Introduction

In the last years, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been widely used worldwide, varying from 10 to 76% [1,2,3]. Sixty-two per cent of Norwich population used CAM, including natural remedies (47.4%), self-help practices (29.1%), and therapies received from CAM providers (14.7%), with a minority receiving CAM therapies from physicians (1.2%). Women and younger people, lower education level and income were more likely to use CAM. Most of the participants found their use of CAM helpful [4]. The prevalence of CAM use depends on what types of services, products, and self-help practices are included in the definition of CAM. There are specific conditions in which CAM is highly frequently used. Forty-five per cent of individuals diagnosed with insomnia in the USA have used a CAM therapy to treat their condition [5].

CAM is also a tempting option for cancer patients. Several experiences have been reported, particularly from Eastern countries. In patients with breast cancer, CAM was used by 70% of patients and was associated with higher education levels and household incomes, advanced cancer, and lower chemotherapy schedule compliance [6] and got information from television or radio [7]. More than 80% of all women with breast cancer reported using CAM, with 41% of them in a specific attempt to manage the disease [8]. Of interest, half of patients did not disclose their use of CAM to their oncologist, primarily, because the question was not raised in consultation. The most frequent CAM used by the participants were homeopathy (42%), herbal medicine (27%), acupuncture (22%), vitamins (18%), and massage therapy (15%) [9].

A European survey examined CAM use and found that about 36% of cancer outpatients were using some form of CAM. A heterogeneous group of 58 therapies were identified as being used. Herbal medicines and remedies, homeopathy, vitamins/minerals, medicinal teas, spiritual therapies, and relaxation techniques were the most commonly CAM therapies. Younger people, females and patients with higher education level  were more frequently using CAM.  Friends, family, and media were the most frequent source of information which was less frequently provided by nurses and physicians. The reasons for using CAM were to increase their performance to fight cancer or to improve either physical and psychological well-being. Many patients  were reported to achieve some benefit from CAM. Of interest, 38% of the Italian participants were using CAM [10].

Research in the area of CAM is scarce and with numerous therapies, we cannot be sure about efficacy or safety. The mechanisms of action are not well understood, and their use is often misled to medical professionals. Herbal medicines, for example, may have drug interactions such as cytochrome modulation, synergistic or additive effects [11]. In frail and elderly palliative care patients, the clinician should consider patients’ comorbidities before recommending certain therapies, such as natural products [12, 13]. A clinical practice guideline has been recently developed to standardize how oncologists address CAM use as well as to inform how individuals with cancer can be supported in making evidence-informed decisions about CAM [14]. Current knowledge gaps urgently need to be filled. CAM is viewed as safe and holistic coupled with a view of conventional medicine as an aggressive and isolated treatment, despite the lack of evidence. There are multiple ideas woven together led patients toward CAM use. Such information is relevant in the process of care, even in the advanced stage of disease, as an understanding of patients’ thought processes may aid health care professionals in initiating a dialogue about decision-making and potential side effects [15].

Information about the use of CAM in advanced cancer patients is lacking, particularly in Western European countries. A recent survey performed in France showed that a large number of advanced cancer patients (90%) were using CAM in the previous six months or since their primary cancer diagnosis [16]. This is a very impressive data, considering the Health Care system, that is similar to that of Italy. The Healthcare system in Italy is based on a welfare model and approved treatments are free of charge or co-paid with a small. Clear information is not always obtainable and some patients may be confused by interested parties. CAM is fully paid for out of pocket, as it is offered outside the national Health Care System. There is a paucity of data examining CAM use in cancer patients receiving palliative care in Italy, resulting in a gap in scientific knowledge. In particular, data on advanced cancer patients followed at home are completely lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the use of CAM in advanced cancer patients followed at home.

Methods

Study design

This study employed an observational cross-sectional survey design.

Setting

The study was conducted in a regional home care program, SAMOT, which follows about 2000 patients per year in five provinces of Sicily, the largest region in Italy.

Participants

A consecutive sample of advanced cancer patients admitted to a home palliative care program was invited to participate in the study in a period of two months. Patients were approached by a member of the research team and invited to participate in the study. Only patients who agreed with the interview were surveyed.

Data collection

Demographic characteristics, religious belief, education level, diagnosis, and socio-economic condition (family income/month < 1000, 1000 < 3000 euros, > 3000 euros) were recorded. Patients were asked if they were using CAM since home palliative care admission. CAM was considered a health-related treatment which was practiced outside the established health services and which is not practiced by authorized health personnel or the methods used are mainly used outside the national health care service [17]. Information about CAM indications and those who prescribed or suggested CAM were also collected.

Statistics

The sample size was based on the number of consecutive patients expected to be admitted to home palliative care with a diagnosis of cancer in two months and the numbers (n.52) of Italian patients included in the largest European study of CAM use in cancer patients, to provide a sample four times as many patients (at least 200 patients). Quantitative and qualitative data, including descriptive statistics, were analyzed for all items. Data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD), and categorical variables were presented as frequencies (percentages). Data were analyzed by IBM SPSS Software 22 version (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA).

Ethical clearance

Approval to conduct the study was obtained from Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL n.6, Palermo). Participation was voluntary, and the participants were informed about the study both orally and in writing. All collected data were anonymized, handled, and stored in accordance with the tenets of the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki (2008).

Results

Two hundred and eighty-three advanced cancer patients followed at home were surveyed in the period taken into consideration. Twenty-one were not taken into consideration for evident cognitive disturbances. The mean age was 73 years (SD 11.6), and 149 (52.6%) patients were males. Two hundred and seventy-seven patients were Italian citizens. One hundred and sixty-seven, 4, and 10 patients were catholic-anglican or evangelic, Jehovah's witnesses, and atheists, respectively.

Twelve patients (4.2%) were receiving CAM. The principal patients’ characteristics are listed in Table 1. The indication and type of CAM were variable, as well as the costs (from few euros to 500 euros per month). Given the low number of patients taking CAM, no further analysis was performed.

Table 1 Characteristics of patients using CAM
Full size table

Discussion

Only a small percentage of advanced cancer patients followed at home were using CAM. People using CAM had different tumors, income, and education. Similarly, the indication, prescriber, or the type of CAM were largely variable, as well as the costs, which are not reimbursed by the Health Care System in Italy. The most frequent indication was about supportive care, rather than a curative intent.

Studies performed in palliative care patients seem to demonstrate a short-term benefit in symptom improvement from baseline with CAM, although a significant benefit was not found between the different groups of therapies [18]. Effectiveness results of complementary therapies in palliative care have been reported to be inconclusive, although patients may perceive them to be of some benefit [19].

The high prevalence of CAM use among cancer patients in Italy previously reported in a European survey [10] was attributed to a relatively high use of CAM in palliative care, in Northern Italy and in urban areas. In a regional study, the use of CAM in patients receiving chemotherapy was found to be modest, but still relevant (17%) and prevalently observed among urbanites, women, and those with a higher level of education [20].

Few studies have assessed the use of CAM in patients receiving palliative care. In the USA, CAM was offered by over 40% of hospice care providers. About one-quarter of patients received CAM therapies during hospice care [21]. Despite increasing use in palliative care, many CAM therapies lack sufficient, high-quality evidence to support their use in the prevention and treatment of diverse conditions [22]. In a recent review evaluating the available evidence on the use of CAM in hospice and palliative care, CAM was found to provide a modest short-term benefit in patients with symptom burden [18].

In France, a country with many economic and cultural affinities with Italy, an observational cross-sectional survey conducted in inpatients and outpatients visiting the palliative care clinics, the majority of advanced cancer patients (90%) had used CAM in the previous six months or since their primary cancer diagnosis [16]. The average out-of-pocket expenses associated with CAM use were about 157 euros/month. The most common health professional visited was an aromatherapist (72.7%), esoteric practitioner (38.6%), osteopath (28.6%), and naturopath (15.3%). The most common CAM used were aromatherapy oils (33.7%), homeopathy (30.0%), and vitamins (29.4%) [23].

Unfortunately, comparable data in advanced cancer patients followed at home are lacking. Thus, this is the first study assessing the use of CAM in a relatively large sample of advanced cancer patients followed at home. The comparison with patients using CAM after a cancer diagnosis or during the active treatment is not appropriate. Another possible reason could be that the study was performed during COVID-19 epidemics, possibly diverting attention toward the use of CAM.

This study has some limitations. While the number of patients was considered adequate in comparison with studies performed with palliative care patients or other settings, the low percentage of advanced cancer patients followed at home who were using CAM did not allow further analyses to assess possible variables associated with CAM use. Moreover, this is a single-center survey. There is the need of a large national study to draw definitive conclusion about the use of CAM in advanced cancer patients and possible associated variables. Finally, comparative studies with an adequate sample regarding the use of a specific treatment for a specific symptom would be of benefit for defining the role of CAM in palliative care.

Conclusion

A limited number of advanced cancer patients followed at home were using CAM. With such a low number of patients was not possible to investigate possible variables associated with this phenomenon. Further multicenter studies, more representative of Italian population with advanced cancer, should be performed to provide information about such therapies, also including eventual benefits.