Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Among Patients With Hematologic Malignancies in France: a Mixed-methods Study

Integrative medicine promotes the incorporation of elements from complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) into patient care. These approaches are defined as treatments that are not routinely part of conventional medical care (1). CAM practices include osteopathy, acupuncture, aromatherapy, naturopathy, and various energy-based techniques, although their efficacy is not always well-established. Nevertheless, a meta-analysis on the use of CAM in the context of cancer reported a 40% prevalence of use in 2012 (2). Subsequently, a study conducted in France in 2015 revealed an 83% prevalence of CAM use across all types of cancer, underscoring the interest in these therapies (3). CAM is often employed to alleviate side effects of conventional treatments, such as fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. The 2015 French study primarily focused on solid tumors, with hematological malignancies representing only 2% of the cases, thereby limiting the assessment of CAM use in this context (3). Currently, there is no specific data evaluating the use of CAM among patients with hematological malignancies in France.

Hematological malignancies, unlike solid tumors, are characterized by their diffuse nature, making their localization and treatment more challenging for patients to comprehend (4). Additionally, a qualitative study the investigators conducted on the spiritual needs of patients recently diagnosed with hematological malignancies identified CAM as an area of interest. Among the ten patients in the study, seven were using CAM and reported an improvement in their spiritual well-being, which is defined as the ability to integrate the meaning and purpose of life into their health experiences, through relationships with themselves, others, art, nature, or a higher entity. This aspect of CAM utilization was not explored in our previous study on the spiritual needs of patients, particularly in understanding their appeal and the motivations of patients to adopt them.

Therefore, it appears crucial to explore this practice, which is known to be common among healthcare providers. Understanding these complementary care pathways would enable their safety (e.g., avoiding or informing about potential drug interactions) and foster the patient-provider relationship around a topic that is sometimes considered taboo (5). Ultimately, this would contribute to better supporting patients within a holistic care perspective.