title: Use of complementary and alternative medicine in paediatric oncology patients in Singapore.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is garnering increasing interest and acceptance among the general population. Although usage is thought to be widespread among paediatric cancer patients, local studies have not been done. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and predictors of CAM usage in paediatric cancer patients in a single institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parents of 73 paediatric cancer patients treated at KK Women's & Children's Hospital completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data about the types of CAM therapies used, motivations for use, adverse effects, costs and discussion of usage with the patient's physician were obtained. General perceptions towards CAM and conventional medicine were explored. A subsequent telephone survey enquired about spirituality, benefits of CAM use and overall satisfaction with the therapies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two-thirds of patients used at least 1 CAM treatment, mainly as supportive adjuncts to conventional cancer treatment. Dietary changes, health supplements, herbal tea and bird's nest were the most common therapies used. Few patients (8.1%) consulted a CAM practitioner. Positive predictors of CAM usage included being of Chinese race, the practice of Buddhism or Taoism, the use of CAM prior to diagnosis, perception of CAM effectiveness and dissatisfaction with conventional treatment. Significantly, 55.1% of the parents had not discussed their CAM usage with their child's physician.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A substantial proportion of paediatric cancer patients utilises CAM therapies, often without their physician's knowledge. Healthcare providers need to remain cognisant of the potential implications of CAM usage in order to proactively counsel patients. This would ensure that conventional therapy remains uncompromised.
authors.affiliation: National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Joeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Manzhi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Mei Yoke
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Ah Moy
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Vasanthi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rajalingam
authors.forename: Lillian P N
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: June
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.forename: Cheng Lim
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000379:methods*; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods*; D015995:Prevalence; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology