title: Alternative methods of treatment used by multiple sclerosis patients in Poland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite the great progress that has been made in medicine, treatment of many chronic diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), remains hardly effective. It has been reported that more and more MS patients worldwide are using alternative methods (AM). The aim of the present study is to evaluate this phenomenon in the Polish MS population.
  
  
  METHODS
  To obtain more data about use of AM in Poland we distributed questionnaires among 210 MS patients treated in 3 hospitals in different regions of our country: Warsaw, Gdansk and Pila.
  
  
  RESULTS
  210 patients (136 females and 74 males) took part in the study. 68.5% (144 of 210 questioned) declared use of AM now or in the past. The most popular (56%) was Oenothera seed oil, followed by vitamins (49%), and the third most common was massage (34%). There were no significant demographic differences between users and non-users. Neither disease duration nor disability had any impact on the decision to use AM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The phenomenon of use of AM by MS patients is not fully understood, but it seems that limited access to so-called immunomodulators, e.g. interferon-b or glatiramer acetate, and limited long-term efficacy are reasons why patients seek other therapies.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Sobieskiego 9, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Waldemar
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fryze
authors.forename: Dagmara
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mirowska-Guzel
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiszniewska
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Darda-Ledzion
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Członkowski
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Członkowska
mesh_terms: D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D031664:Oenothera; D011044:Poland; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D014815:Vitamins