Complementary and alternative medicine use in lung cancer patients in eight European countries

• This paper presents findings from a cross-sectional survey about the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in patients with lung cancer, forming part of a larger study. Data from 111 lung cancer patients in 8 countries in Europe were collected through a descriptive 27-item questionnaire. The data suggest that 23.6% of the lung cancer patients used CAM after the diagnosis with cancer. The most popular CAM modalities were herbal medicine (48.1%), medicinal teas (11.5%), homeopathy (11.5%), use of animal extracts (11.5%) and spiritual therapies (11.5%). Herbal use increased by three times after the diagnosis of cancer. Patients seemed quite satisfied with the CAM used. They were also spending on average about 142 Euros monthly on CAM therapies or remedies. The most common motivation to use CAM was to increase the body's ability to fight the cancer. Main sources of information about CAM were friends and family. As CAM is increasingly used by patients with lung cancer, it is important to be able to assist patients make an appropriate decision by discussing the issue of CAM openly, providing reassurance and communicating safe and appropriate information to patients. 

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Cancer och onkologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cancer and Oncology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Alternative medicine

Complementary medicine

Complementary therapies

Lung cancer

adult

aged

article

cross-sectional study

decision making

epidemiology

Europe

family

female

friend

human

Israel

lung tumor

male

methodology

middle aged

motivation

patient attitude

patient education

psychological aspect

questionnaire

socioeconomics

statistics

treatment outcome

Turkey (republic)

utilization review

Aged

80 and over

Cross-Sectional Studies

Friends

Health Care Surveys

Humans

Lung Neoplasms

Patient Acceptance of Health Care

Questionnaires

Socioeconomic Factors

Turkey

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)