European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society
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The purpose of this study was to define various methods of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) used by cancer patients and their characteristics in Turkey. The sample consisted of 100 cancer patients who were monitored in the oncology outpatient and inpatient departments of two hospitals. Almost all participating patients were receiving conventional treatment, 36% of which were also using CAM methods. ⋯ Of the patients, 79.3% acknowledged a varying degree of benefit from the methods they use. The most frequently indicated benefit was "feeling better both physically and emotionally". Most findings in this study are similar to the results of other research conducted on the subject in Turkey.