[Children with cancer and their use of natural products].
BACKGROUND
Little is published about use of dietary supplements and natural products in children with cancer. The aim of the study was to document the experience and attitudes parents to Norwegian children with cancer have on use of such products.


METHODS
The parents of 56 children at the three University hospitals in and around Oslo were asked to participate in the study. The mother or father of 21 children accepted the invitation to participate in interviews in focus groups.


RESULTS
The parents were very restrictive about giving their children natural products. They said they did not have the capacity to search for information, but they were more open when it came to own use of these products. The parents in this study felt a strong pressure to try natural products from advertisements, media and health stores. The families had been given advice from friends and relatives about giving natural products, and not following the advice ended up being an extra burden. The participants had not received information from physicians or other health workers about such products, but would prefer to receive information from them.


CONCLUSIONS
The parents in this study were very restrictive about giving their children natural products. They all had confidence in the doctor and would like the doctor to advise them. It is challenging to convey correct and evidence-based information appropriately.
Krogstad
Tonje
T
Farmasøytisk institutt, Universitetet i Oslo, Postboks 1068 Blindern, 0316 Oslo. tonje.krogstad@farmasi.uio.no
Nguyen
My
M
Widing
Eva
E
Toverud
Else-Lydia
EL
D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
D028321:Plant Preparations; D014815:Vitamins