PP439 - USE OF FOODS, BOTANICAL PRODUCTS, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES AS COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AMONG PATIENTS WITH CANCER
PP439
USE OF FOODS, BOTANICAL PRODUCTS, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES AS COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AMONG PATIENTS WITH CANCER
Y. N. Franco-Tobón1, D. López2, S. González-Sánchéz1, M. López-Echavarría1, A. M. Castaño-Londoño1, B. Ramírez-Gonzalez3, M. A. Agudelo-Martínez1, C. Posada-Alvarez2, P. Savino-Lloreda4,*
1Universidad CES, Medellín, 2Centro Latinoamericano de Nutrición (CELAN), Sopó, 3Clínica Medellín, Medellín, 4Grupo Alpina, Sopó, Colombia
Rationale: Food-related complementary and alternative therapies (CATs) are commonly used by patients with cancer despite limited evidence regarding their efficacy and safety. This study aimed to characterize the knowledge and use of foods, botanical products, and other substances used as CATs among patients with cancer.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in 100 adults with cancer receiving antineoplastic therapy. Data on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, perceptions, and CAT use were collected through a structured survey and complemented with information from medical records. Descriptive analyses were performed, followed by exploratory bivariate analyses using the chi2 test and Kruskal-Wallis test.
Results: The median age was 64.5 y; 51% of participants were women, and 77% had stage III-IV disease. Overall, 62% reported using CATs, 28% reported awareness without use, and 10% reported neither awareness nor use. The most frequently used categories were foods (80.6%), botanical products (61.3%), foods for special medical purposes or products registered as foods (54.8%), and dietary supplements (46.8%). Use was predominantly daily, with a median duration of 5.5 months. The main reasons for use were to strengthen the immune system, improve physical health, and relieve symptoms related to the disease or its treatment. Only one patient reported adverse effects. Significant differences were found according to age (p=0.0179), marital status (p=0.038), and religion (p=0.017), whereas no significant differences were observed by cancer type or stage.
Conclusion: Food-related CAT use was highly prevalent and appeared to be driven more by sociocultural than by clinical factors. The high perceived safety of these therapies, the low frequency of consultation with healthcare professionals, and the concurrent use of multiple products highlight the need for better patient-clinician communication.
Disclosure of Interest: None declared