Use of complementary and alternative medicine: A multicenter cross-sectional study in 1089 melanoma patients

Loquai, Carmen; Dechent, Dagmar; Garzarolli, Marlene; Kaatz, Martin; Kaehler, Katharina C.; Kurschat, Peter; Meiß, Frank; Micke, Oliver; Muecke, Ralph; Muenstedt, Karsten; Stein, Annette; Nashan, Dorothée; Stoll, Christoph; Schmidtmann, Irene; Huebner, Jutta

doi:10.1016/j.ejca.2016.10.029

Cited by 54 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Gaining access to CAM mainly through non-professional sources and providers is problematic since uncritical usage might involve a potential for interactions between conventional and complementary therapies, particularly in the case of herbal supplements [40,41,42]. Overall, 59% of our participants reported usage of CAM, mostly dietary supplements, alongside their oncological therapy, which is consistent with previous studies [6,35,36,38,39]. Nevertheless, prevalence rates vary widely throughout the literature, mostly due to the lack of a consistent definition of CAM and associated modalities, as well as differences in ethnic and cultural attitude towards complementary health approaches.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

“…Despite conspicuous interest among patients as well as growing acceptance among physicians, a persistent lack of implementation of integrative medicine into standard cancer care in Germany has been reported [37]. Hence, it is not astonishing that patients often turn to non-professional sources for complementary treatments [7,34,38,39]. Our results confirm this inasmuch as family/friends and non-medical practitioners were 2 of the 3 main sources of information and recommendation regarding CAM.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluating the Demand for Integrative Medicine Practices in Breast and Gynecological Cancer Patients

Schuerger

Klein

Hapfelmeier³

et al. 2018

Breast Care

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Introduction: Integrative medicine is becoming increasingly relevant to modern oncology. The present study aims to assess the demand for integrative therapeutic approaches including complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), body and mind practices, nutritional counseling, and psychological assistance among breast and gynecological cancer patients. Methods: From April to July 2017, a pseudo-anonymous questionnaire was distributed to cancer patients at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Technical University of Munich. Patterns of CAM use and demand for integrative health approaches were investigated by generating descriptive statistics. Results: 182 (90%) of 203 patients participated in the survey. 59% indicated the use of CAM practices in general, and 41% specifically in relation to their oncological disease. Most frequently used modalities were herbal supplements (32%), homeopathy (29%), vitamins (28%), and selenium (21%). Integrative health approaches that patients would have desired alongside conventional oncological treatment were CAM (54%), relaxation therapies (44%), and dietary counseling (43%). Conclusion: There is a considerable demand for integrative medicine among breast and gynecological cancer patients. Our results underline the need for the implementation of evidence-based integrative treatments in cancer care in order to meet the standards of modern oncology.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating the Demand for Integrative Medicine Practices in Breast and Gynecological Cancer Patients

Schuerger

Klein

Hapfelmeier³

et al. 2018

Breast Care

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“…Auf die Frage, was Gründe für den Einsatz von komplementären Methoden sind, antwortete diese Patientengruppe in einem wesentlich höheren Anteil als Patienten in einem frühen onkologischen Setting, dass sie "… nur auf Therapien [vertrauen], die wissenschaftlich belegt sind …". Bei einer Befragung von Patienten mit Melanom, von denen viele in einer palliativen Situation waren, fand diese Aussage eine hohe Zustimmungsrate von 75 % [27].…”

Section: Merkeunclassified

Homöopathie in der Palliativmedizin

Hübner¹,

Aust²,

Keinki³

2018

Palliativmedizin

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“…Various studies found that the use of complementary therapies correlates with a younger age, higher education level, higher income, less physician consultation, and absence of metastases at the time of diagnosis [2,7,[16][17][18]. The use of CAM is also positively associated with confidence in CAM and the use of CAM in the past [5,7,12,16,18]. Even though multiple studies have closely studied CAM use and its predictors, non-CAM use among breast und gynecological cancer patients is largely unexamined [17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and Predictors for Nonuse of Complementary Medicine among Breast and Gynecological Cancer Patients

Paepke

Wiedeck

Hapfelmeier³

et al. 2019

Breast Care

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Background: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is common among cancer patients. Data indicated that CAM use correlates with younger age, higher education levels, higher income, and less physician consultations. However, non-CAM use and predictors for non-CAM use are less clear among breast and gynecological cancer patients. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of non-CAM use and to investigate factors that might influence non-CAM use. Methods: The survey was conducted in breast cancer patients from January to May 2013 and in gynecological cancer patients from January to May 2014 with 2 pseudoanonymous questionnaires: one for CAM users (109 questions) and one for non-CAM users (85 questions). The survey was conducted via a telephone interview with 333 patients. Eligible participants were women with breast cancer (n = 285) and gynecological cancer (n = 291) who had undergone surgery at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the Technical University Munich, Germany, in the years 2012 (breast cancer) and 2011-2013 (gynecological cancer). Descriptive statistics were generated to determine patterns of non-CAM use. Univariable analysis was used to detect patient characteristics associated with noninterest in the different CAM therapies. Results: A total of 333 of 576 patients participated in the survey (58%). Fifty-eight percent (n = 192/333) were diagnosed with breast cancer and 42% (n = 141/333) with gynecological cancer. The overall prevalence of non-CAM use was 42% (n = 139/333). Eighty-one percent (n = 112/139) of the non-CAM users stated to have received no recommendation for CAM use, although 53% (n = 73/139) would have liked to receive information from their physician. As reasons for the nonuse of CAM therapies, 76% (n = 106/139) nonusers declared that they did not believe CAM use was necessary since the conventional therapy was considered sufficient, 44% (n = 61/139) reported a lack of information, 31% (n = 43/139) a fear of fraud, and 22% (n = 31/139) a fear of interactions and side effects of CAM. Sixty-eight percent (n = 95/139) of the patients stated that they would resort to CAM if the disease progressed while only 27% (n = 37/139) would still not use any CAM with progression of disease. Five percent (7/139) did not give any information regarding possible future CAM use with disease progression. Seventy-three percent (n = 102/139) would both welcome more physicians with qualifications in complementary medicine and supported an integration of CAM into our health care system. Furthermore, statistically significant correlations between patients' sociodemographic characteristics and their nonuse of complementary therapies were identified. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate a high overall interest in CAM even in non-CAM D.P. and C.W. contributed equally to this study as first authors.

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Use of complementary and alternative medicine: A multicenter cross-sectional study in 1089 melanoma patients

Cited by 54 publications

References 27 publications

Evaluating the Demand for Integrative Medicine Practices in Breast and Gynecological Cancer Patients

Evaluating the Demand for Integrative Medicine Practices in Breast and Gynecological Cancer Patients

Homöopathie in der Palliativmedizin

Prevalence and Predictors for Nonuse of Complementary Medicine among Breast and Gynecological Cancer Patients

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