ABSTRACT
Background: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widely used nationally and internationally for multiple medical conditions, including different stages of cancer. It is used by the patients for multiple purposes, including to cure diseases or resolve symptoms, as patients have the misconception that natural remedies are safer than radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Objectives: The aim of this research is to investigate the prevalence, pattern, and purpose of CAM use by cancer patients at Princess Noorah Oncology Center (PNOC), King Abdulaziz Medical City, in Jeddah (KAMC-JD). Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that examined 293 patients (selected through random computerized sampling) who were seen at PNOC during the study period. To be eligible for the study, participants had to be cancer patients over the age of 18 who were seen at PNOC. The authors excluded patients who had privacy requests or did not fit our inclusion criteria. Results: Of the sample, 52.9% [95% confidence interval (CI), 47.0-58.7] used CAM. Only 5.8% of patients delayed their medical treatment to use CAM. A significantly higher proportion of females used CAM than males (61.8% vs. 40.0%, P<0.001). The most common types of CAM were Zamzam water (67.7%), Quran recitation (42.6%), water read upon Quran (41.3%), and black seed (Nigella sativa) (41.3%). The most frequently reported reasons for CAM use were to treat cancer (53.5%), increase immunity (34.2%), and religious beliefs (23.9%). Generally, 57.4% of CAM users felt improvement with CAM modalities. Conclusion: In conclusion, more than 50% of our sample used CAM; 5.8% of patients delayed the medical treatment to use CAM. The most common type of CAM was Zamzam water, and the most frequently reported reason for CAM use was to treat cancer. Of CAM users, 57.4% felt improvement with CAM modalities. Further studies that involve qualitative designs and include a more diverse sample are recommended in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to understand CAM utilization patterns.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Neonatal thrombocytopenia (NTCP) is a common hematological disorder whose platelet count falls below the normal limit of 150 x 109/L. NTCP can cause late complications if left untreated. The current study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the umbilical cord complete blood count (UC CBC) in detecting early-onset neonatal thrombocytopenia (EO-NTCP). Further, the prevalence of NTCP was also investigated. Methods: A cross-sectional study with a matched control was conducted on all newborns delivered at a tertiary care center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between May 2016 and 2019. After exclusions, 40 neonates with EO-NTCP (cases) and 80 without EO-NTCP (controls) were included. The case-to-control ratio was 1:2. The results of UC CBC were compared with those of follow-up CBC, performed within 72 hours. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. All data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 28 for Windows (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). RESULTS: The prevalence of NTCP was approximately 1.02% (111/10,936). Lack of antenatal care was found in 12 (30%) neonates with EO-NTCP vs. 10 (12.5%) neonates without EO-NTCP (p = 0.02). Neonates with EO-NTCP were more likely to have experienced intrauterine growth restriction (5 (37.5%) vs. 5 (6.3%), p < 0.001) and oligohydramnios (5 (12.5%) vs. 0 (0%), p = 0.003). Neonates who developed EO-NTCP were more likely to be admitted to the NICU (34 (85%) vs. 35 (43.8%), p < 0.001) and receive antibiotics (22 (55%) vs. 25 (31.3%), p = 0.012). Also, neonates with EO-NTCP were more frequently diagnosed with neonatal sepsis (7 (17.5%) vs. 3 (3.8%), p = 0.015) and more likely to receive platelet transfusions (15 (37.5% vs. 1 (1.3%), p < 0.001). They also had a higher median length of hospital stay (13 (interquartile range (IQR) 3-28) vs. 4 (IQR 2-9) days, p = 0.006). The mortality rates of neonates with EO-NTCP and those without were 6 (15%) vs. 2 (2.5%) neonates (p = 0.016). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of UC CBC were 62.50%, 97.50%, 20.40%, and 99.61%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of EO-NTCP in King Abdulaziz Medical City is comparable to international and national figures, and it is associated with preceding maternal comorbidities, serious neonatal morbidity, and even mortality. Therefore, proper antenatal care is vital in preventing maternal and neonatal morbidities, including the risks of NTCP and its related complications. With high NPV, using UC CBC as a universal screening method could assist in safely discharging newborns. However, because of its low sensitivity, a comprehensive clinical examination with confirmatory laboratory tests are still the cornerstone in diagnosing EO-NTCP. Future trials should aim to study the cost-effectiveness of universal UC CBC and the long-term outcomes of infants diagnosed with EO-NTCP.
