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Complementary and alternative medical therapies used by children with cancer treated at an Italian pediatric oncology unit
Author(s) -
Clerici Carlo Alfredo,
Veneroni Laura,
Giacon Barbara,
Mariani Luigi,
FossatiBellani Franca
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
pediatric blood and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.116
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1545-5017
pISSN - 1545-5009
DOI - 10.1002/pbc.22093
Subject(s) - medicine , pediatric oncology , observational study , pediatric cancer , homeopathy , blood cancer , family medicine , cancer , alternative medicine , pediatrics , intensive care medicine , pathology
Background Research has identified a growing use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) in the pediatric oncology setting and health care professionals should consider how they might interact with and/or be used in lieu of conventional treatment. The present study was designed to establish the prevalence of CAM usage at an Italian pediatric oncology department, and the reasons why patients used these unconventional therapies. Procedure This was an observational study involving parents whose children were treated for tumors at the pediatric oncology unit of the Istituto Nazionale Tumori in Milano. Data were collected on their sociodemographic variables and their use of CAM by means of a self‐administered questionnaire. Results We distributed 145 questionnaires and 97 of them (67%) were returned. Judging from this survey, 12.4% of the children used at least one type of CAM and homoeopathy was the most often used. Benefits were reported by 83% of parents. The most common reasons for using CAM were to reduce the side‐effects of conventional therapies. The oncologists taking care of the patients were notified of the child's use of CAM in only one case. Conclusion CAM were used not as a substitute but in addition to conventional treatments. In almost all cases, oncologists were not informed that a child was using CAM, posing a risk of any interaction with pharmacological treatments being inadequately understood. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;53:599–604. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.