Factors Influencing Radical Remission: A Cross-Sectional Examination of Conventional and Alternative Medicine Alongside Personal Life Attitudes in Chronic Illness.

Abstract Introduction Radical remission, defined as the significant and not fully explained recovery from incurable diseases, is reported across various chronic conditions. Despite its significance, there has been limited empirical research on the underlying factors. While conventional medical approaches focus on symptomatic and disease-specific treatment, there is growing interest in complementary and alternative medicine and integrative practices as contributing factors to radical remission. This study aimed to identify common characteristics among patients with radical remission from chronic and incurable diseases and to explore patients’ experiences, specifically evaluating the perceived impact of conventional treatments, complementary and alternative practices, and personal life attitudes on their healing journey. Methods Employing a prospective, cross-sectional, survey-based design, this study recruited a diverse sample of individuals (n=61) reporting radical remission from chronic diseases. Participants completed a systematic set of systematic questionnaires regarding their use of conventional, complementary and alternative therapies, and personal life attitudes to determine the perceived effectiveness of each factor in their healing process. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Results While both conventional and complementary and alternative therapies were widely used, complementary and alternative practices, such as mind-body interventions, energy-based therapies, and lifestyle modifications, received higher perceived effectiveness ratings compared to conventional treatments. Personal life attitudes were also widely utilized. Furthermore, these attitudes —including emotional and social support, positive attitudes, and spiritual and religious factors— emerged as the most impactful perceived factor in healing, outperforming both traditional and complementary and alternative therapies. Gender differences also emerged, with women more frequently engaging in complementary and alternative therapies, especially in Eastern medicine and mind-body practices, as compared to men. Conclusions This study highlights the perceived roles of complementary and alternative therapies and personal life attitudes in radical remission. Findings suggest that an integrative approach combining conventional, complementary and alternative methods, along with fostering positive life attitudes, may be essential in promoting radical remission. These results advocate for further research on integrative health strategies and emphasize the potential benefits of addressing psychological and spiritual dimensions alongside conventional treatments in chronic disease management.