Complementary and alternative medicine use in pediatric cancer reported during palliative phase of disease

Abstract

The study provides initial insight into CAM use, and consideration of use, in children with cancer receiving palliative care. Further research is required to determine if the gap between CAM use and consideration is important, why this gap exists, and whether CAM has beneficial effects in this population.

Cancer-Related Stress and Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A Review

“…Children's and adolescents' use of CAM has been linked to parents' use of CAM [183, 184]. Parents with higher educational backgrounds are more likely to consider [185] and to use [182] CAM approaches for their children, although no consistent correlations between CAM use and parental income, child age, or ethnicity have been reported [182]. CAM use and consideration were shown to be positively related to a lower survival perspective [186] and fewer days since relapse [185], respectively, suggesting that CAM therapies may be a coping strategy for families in an attempt to try every possible approach for curing or alleviating pain and distress in their children.…”

“…Parents with higher educational backgrounds are more likely to consider [185] and to use [182] CAM approaches for their children, although no consistent correlations between CAM use and parental income, child age, or ethnicity have been reported [182]. CAM use and consideration were shown to be positively related to a lower survival perspective [186] and fewer days since relapse [185], respectively, suggesting that CAM therapies may be a coping strategy for families in an attempt to try every possible approach for curing or alleviating pain and distress in their children. A review by Sencer and Kelly [187] suggests that families' use of CAM may increase their sense of control and active participation in treatment, and therefore open discussion of CAM should be useful for physicians in building relationships with families and in understanding all potential influences on the child's care.…”

Effectiveness of Integrative Modalities for Pain and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents With Cancer

“…The most common integrative therapies are natural products (herbs, vitamins, and dietary supplement), used to alleviate symptoms or improve health (Tomlinson, Hesser, Ethier, & Sung, 2011). …”

Use of Complementary Medicine in Children Receiving Chemotherapy

“…31 [12][13][14][18][19][20]24,27,[29][30][31][32] Ailelerin çocukları için tamamlayıcı tedavi kullanma nedenleri incelendiğinde, bazı çalışmalar ilk sıralarda kanserin tedavi edilmesi ya da durdurulması, ikinci sırada ise kanser tedavisinin yan etkilerinin azaltılması olduğunu belirtmektedir. [14][15][16][17]19,24 Magi ve ark. ile Laengler ve ark.nın çalışmalarında, kemoterapinin yan etkilerini azaltmak için tamam-layıcı tedavi kullandıkları bulunmuştur ve bu çalışmanın sonuçları ile benzerlik göstermektedir.…”