Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine by Oncology Patients in the City of Bucaramanga, Colombia

Introduction. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is frequently used by oncology patients worldwide, often alongside conventional treatments. Understanding the frequency of use and motivations for CAM use is essential to improve patient-centered cancer care and guidance. Objective. To determine the frequency of use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in oncology patients in the city of Bucaramanga, Colombia. Method. Descriptive study; patients were surveyed at a health center in Bucaramanga, Colombia. Adult patients with any type of cancer, at all clinical stages, and who were undergoing active treatment were included. Results. A total of 528 patients were included. Seventy-one percent were women, with an average age of 56.6 years. The most common cancer diagnoses were breast, colon, and stomach neoplasms. The CAM’s frequency of use was 67%, the majority of whom were women and patients with an educational level close to primary school. The primary reason for use was for palliative purposes, but a significant number used it for a curative purpose. The most commonly used products by patients were special foods of natural origin, including soursop and soursop leaves. As the main source of information about CAM, 86% reported obtaining this information from people other than the healthcare team. Conclusion. A high proportion of oncology patients undergoing active treatment use CAM. It is necessary to incorporate this information into patient care and to develop services that guide such practices.