Motivations of patients seeking supportive care for cancer from physicians prescribing homeopathic or conventional medicines: results of an observational cross-sectional study

Abstract

Patients consulting a GP-Ho or GP-CM had different motivations for seeking supportive care. There was a significantly greater prescription of psychotropic drugs by GP-CM.

Perceptions of homeopathy in supportive cancer care among oncologists and general practitioners in France

“…In these cross-sectional observational descriptive studies, we surveyed specialist oncologists and GPs (conventional or trained in homeopathy) to establish current attitudes to and use of homeopathic therapies in SCO in France. Although a number of studies indicate that homeopathy is the complementary medicine most commonly used by cancer patients in France [11][12][13][14][15][16][17], data is more limited for factors which may influence clinical decision-making for recommending or prescribing homeopathic therapies as SCO by treating physicians. It was this, rather than a formal evaluation and analysis of specific prescribing patterns, which was the main focus and purpose of the studies we report.…”

“…The choice of integrative and complementary medicine is often cultural. In France, due to widespread acceptance by both doctors and patients [11][12][13][14][15][16][17], homeopathy is an important and legitimate component of the French integrative model. Key aspects are patient satisfaction, safety, low cost, ease of use, and absence of important drug interactions.…”

“…Recruitment followed a similar process to that reported in previous studies [ 13 ]. Participating GPs were recruited from two databases, one for NHGPs and one for HGPs.…”

“…In European countries, homeopathy represents one of the most frequently used CAM therapies in cancer care [7][8][9], and in France homeopathy is considered an established medical product [10]. Data suggests that homeopathy is the most common supportive care treatment for cancer patients [11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. In the VICAN 5 study, which examined a wide range of data on cancer survivors 5 years after diagnosis, 21.4% of survey participants reported use of non-conventional medicines, 59.6% of whom used homeopathy (including 15.9% using homeopathy exclusively for cancer-related reasons) [17].…”

Vivência Da Homeopatia: Uma Racionalidade Médica Integrativa Na Universidade Estadual De Feira De Santana – Uefs

“…Sendo assim, muitas publicações documentam o relato de casos do uso de homeopáticos em vídeo, atestados assinados, registros de testemunhas, resultados laboratoriais e escalas de dor e qualidade de vida, tornando-os um recurso confiável no contexto da moderna medicina baseada em evidências 17,18,19,20,21 . É notória a necessidade de se conhecer o paciente em seu contexto para melhor entendimento do processo de adoecimento, construindo-se no discente um raciocínio fundamentado nos preceitos da Clínica Ampliada, na qual o paciente é considerado como um todo, em seu processo de adoecer, inserido em seu habitat com suas relações inevitáveis.…”