BetaEntity Annotation Prototype
← Back to diseases

Annotated abstract

4CPS-218 Prevalence and characteristics of complementary therapy use in patients undergoing oncological treatment

ejhpharm · 2026-03-18 · canonical JSON source

26 visible annotations · policy: published · automated confidence ≥ 75.00%

Document resource

Background and Importance Complementary therapies, including herbal products (HP), are frequently used by cancer patients. However, unsupervised use may compromise the efficacy and safety of anticancer treatment due to potential drug–herb interactions.Aim and Objectives To evaluate the prevalence of HP use in oncology patients treated at the Hospital Outpatient Clinic (HOC). Secondary objectives were to identify the most commonly used HP, assess patient–healthcare professional communication, and determine the main sources of patient information on these therapies.Material and Methods Prospective longitudinal study in a tertiary hospital. Adult patients receiving oncological treatment in the HOC (April–June 2025) were included. Patients enrolled in clinical trials or with haematological malignancies were excluded. Socio-demographic and clinical variables were collected from the electronic health record (HCIS ), and treatment data from the electronic prescribing system (FarmaTools ). HP use was assessed through a 7-item survey designed by the research team based on validated questionnaires and administered during treatment at the HOC. Multiple responses were allowed.Results A total of 112 patients were included, 62 (55.4%) women, median age 64 (57–72) years. The most common cancer types were colorectal (28; 25.0%), breast (26; 23.2%) and non-small-cell lung cancer (20; 17.9%).Overall, 104 (92.9%) patients reported HP use. 73 (70.2%) had not been asked about it by healthcare professionals, although 61 (58.7%) proactively informed about their own use. A total of 46 different HP were reported, the most frequent being garlic (75; 72.1%), pepper (75; 72.1%), oregano (74; 71.2%), thyme (57; 54.8%), rosemary (53; 51.0%), chamomile (50; 48.1%), ginger (42; 40.4%), cinnamon (36; 34.6%) and turmeric (35; 33.7%).Main sources of information were healthcare professionals (49%), acquaintances (22%), internet (21%) and traditional use without a specific source (35%).Conclusion and Relevance Oncology patients HP use is highly prevalent and may result in interaction risks. Healthcare professionals often do not enquire about it. Systematic recording and patient education are recommended to ensure safe treatment.Conflict of Interest No conflict of interest