Complementary therapies in cancer patients: prevalence and patients' motives.
BACKGROUND
Data relating to the use of complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) in cancer patients have been published for a number of European countries. No recent data are available for Austria.


OBJECTIVE
To ascertain the extent of CAM use by cancer patients, what patients' motives are, what methods are used and who the CAM providers are.


METHODS
Self-administered questionnaire; cross-sectional study.


METHODS
A sample of 231 cancer patients who had consulted the Viennese Cancer League. Chi-square and Mantel-Haenszel tests were used for the statistical evaluation.


RESULTS
27.3% of the cancer patients had received CAM therapy: 33.1% of the female and 20.5% of the male participants (p = 0.045). Those who were below the median of the age categories (53.8 years) had used CAM to a statistically higher degree (35.5% vs. 21.1%; p = 0.023). The most important motives were the enhancement of "nature" and the GPs' recommendation. CAM was administered in 44.4% of cases by the family doctor, in 39.7% by patients themselves, in 6.3% by a hospital doctor, in 6.3% by a lay-practitioner or "non-medical practitioner against payment" and in 4.8% of cases by a practising oncologist.


CONCLUSIONS
From the high percentage of patients who use CAM without consulting a physician or who follow the advice of others, it would seem highly probable that conventional and complementary methods are rarely effectively coordinated. To rectify this we conclude that oncologists and GPs should have a basic knowledge of CAM and address the issue when counselling their cancer patients.
Spiegel
Wolfgang
W
Department of General Practice, Institute of Medical Education, Medical University of Vienna, Austria. spiwo@aon.at
Zidek
Thomas
T
Vutuc
Christian
C
Maier
Manfred
M
Isak
Karin
K
Micksche
Michael
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001317:Austria; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D003376:Counseling; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires