Prevalence of the Use of Herbal Medicines among Patients with Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Table 2

Characteristics of included studies (n = 155).

Variable	Mean ± standard deviation or n (%)
Female (n = 96)	53.95 ± 14.04
Age, years (n = 86)	50.98 ± 17.39
Response rate (n = 99)	76.95 ± 19.78
Study year (10-year block)
2000–2010	80 (51.61)
2010–2020	75 (48.39)
Region (continent)
America	53 (34.19)
Asia	46 (29.68)
Europe	47 (30.32)
Oceania	6 (3.87)
Africa	3 (1.94)
Subregion (World Bank category)
Europe and Central Asia	51 (32.92)
North America	47 (30.32)
East Asia and Pacific	36 (23.23)
Middle East	13 (8.39)
Latin America and the Caribbean	5 (3.23)
Sub-Saharan Africa	3 (1.94)
Income (World Bank category)
Low/middle income	51 (34.23)
High income	98 (65.77)
Key individual countries (≥5 studies)
USA	42 (27.10)
Turkey	18 (11.61)
Taiwan	7 (4.52)
UK	9(5.81)
China	7 (4.52)
Germany	5 (3.23)
Malaysia	5 (3.23)
Australia	5 (3.23)
Canada	5 (3.23)
Study design
Cross-sectional/survey	154 (99.35)
Cohort	1 (0.65)
Study type/focus
CAM	143 (92.26)
Herbal medicine only	12 (7.74)
Study setting
Hospital (e.g., cancer clinic, institute, center, unit)	133 (85.81)
Cancer/tumor registry	6 (3.87)
General population (e.g., online)	16 (10.32)
Study population
Adults	129 (83.23)
Children	23 (14.84)
Both	3 (1.94)
Sampling method
Convenience	99 (63.87)
Consecutive	38 (24.52)
Simple random sampling	13 (8.39)
Quota	1 (0.65)
Systematic	1 (0.65)
Stratified	2 (1.29)
Multistage sampling	1 (0.65)
Data collection methods
Self-report/self-administered interview	82 (52.90)
Researcher-administered interview (telephone, in-person)	59 (38.06)
Record/document review	6 (4.11)
Others (mixed, unclear)	8 (5.17)
Cancer type
Breast	29 (18.71)
Prostate	13 (8.39)
Mixed (several types)	113 (72.90)