title: Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Cardiac Surgery: Prevalence and Modality of use.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Complementary and alternative medicines are developing at a growing rate but their use in the hospital setting is little known, ignoring risk or benefit in practice. The objectives of the study were to quantify the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicines used by patients admitted to a cardiac surgery department.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients and staff at the Cardiac Surgery unit of Angers University Hospital (France) were surveyed regarding their modality of complementary and alternative medicines use, between April 01, 2013, and April 18, 2014, by means of an anonymous questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 154 patients included in the study, 58% used a complementary and alternative medicine at least once in their lifetime, 38% during the preceding year, and 14% between the consultation and surgery. In all, 71% used them as a complement to their conventional medical treatment. Of those who used a complementary and alternative medicine during the year of their surgery procedure, only 29% informed their physicians and paramedical staff about it.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Complementary and alternative medicines use among patients admitted to cardiac surgery units is common. Yet there is a real lack of knowledge regarding these health practices among physicians and paramedical staff.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Surgery Department, CHU Angers, France. Electronic address: emdalmayrac@chu-angers.fr.
authors.forename: Emilie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dalmayrac
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Surgery Department, CHU Angers, France.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quignon
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Surgery Department, CHU Angers, France.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baufreton
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Aromatherapy; Complementary therapies; Phytotherapy; Thoracic Surgery.; Traditional medicine