Use of alternative medicine by patients with cancer in a rural area of Switzerland.
BACKGROUND
Many cancer patients use alternative therapies in addition to conventional treatment. In a survey among such patients, we assessed the prevalence of and the motivation for alternative therapy use in a rural area of Switzerland.


METHODS
From 1st February to 30th November 2001, we interviewed 108 patients treated in the oncology outpatient clinic of the Langenthal District General Hospital, Switzerland, using a structured questionnaire. 77% of the patients were female. 49% of the patients (i.e., 64% of the female patients) suffered from breast cancer.


RESULTS
42 (39%) of all patients had used an alternative therapy in addition to conventional treatment at least once. Mistletoe preparations were by far the most popular with a prevalence of 74%. Homeopathy (24%) and cancer diets (12%) were used less often. 79% of the patients seeking help from alternative treatment informed their treating oncologist and/or medical practitioner accordingly. 57% of the doctors encouraged their patients to continue the alternative treatment, none discouraged the patient to do so. The main reasons for the use of alternative therapy were: the desire to feel more hopeful (83%); "to do as much as possible myself to cure the disease" (83%); and to harness mental energy (62%). Only 19% of the patients hoped to be cured of cancer by alternative therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
The motivation to seek help from alternative treatment is not based on a distrust of conventional care. Maintaining hope and taking an active role in self-care are the main stimuli for using alternative medicine.
van der Weg
Fleur
F
Department of Medicine, SRO-Hospital Langenthal, Switzerland.
Streuli
Rolf A
RA
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010940:Plant Proteins; D015995:Prevalence; D054790:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 2; D012424:Rural Population; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D028321:Plant Preparations; D010940:Plant Proteins; D054790:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 2; D014118:Toxins, Biological; C009674:ribosome inactivating protein, Viscum